The Nigerian Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has revealed that the microblogging platform, Twitter, has agreed to all the conditions presented to it by the Federal Government regarding its operations in the country.
This follows a dialogue between the Federal Government’s team and Twitter in the wake of the suspension of the social media platform in Nigeria by the Government over allegations of double standards, among others.
Mr Keyamo who is also a member of the committee set up to review the operations of the microblogging platform since its ban in the country, during an interview, pointed out that the committee has made significant progress so far. Mr. Keyamo disclosing why the President banned the microblogging platform explained that the President took that step to recalibrate its relationship with Twitter and not to drive them away from the country.
“That recalibration, we have started it and the President graciously added me to the committee. We also set up a technical committee to interface with Twitter and come up with a lot of conditions for them to fulfill for us to lift the suspension”.
Festus Keyamo
The Minister further disclosed that it was Twitter that reached out to the Federal Government “to say they want to know what and what they can do” to straighten up the relationship with the Federal Government. He went on to posit that they have deliberated on several issues, however, he noted that he can’t disclose a lot of things they have discussed with the microblogging firmr.
Keyamo further noted that the Federal Government has given the platform “a lot of conditions and they have agreed to all the conditions”.
“Once those timelines come and they fulfill those conditions, Twitter will be back to business in Nigeria. They know exactly what we want and these are things that are extremely altruistic”.
Festus Keyamo
Mr. Keyamo further speaking revealed that the social media giant has agreed to pay taxes to the Nigerian government as well as set up a physical office in Nigeria where users can take their complaints to.
Twitter had earlier stirred a debate in Nigeria when it announced its decision to set up its regional headquarters in Ghana rather than Nigeria where it enjoys more patronage.
It cited “free speech, online freedom, and open internet” among its reasons, something that peeved officials of the Nigerian government, according to some reports.
Mr. Keyamo also stated that the technical committee set up to interface with Twitter is currently working on a code of conduct not only to control the mode of engagement on the platform but also on other social media platforms.
Ban on Twitter Operations in Nigeria
It can be recalled that in June 2021, the Federal Government suspended the operations of Twitter indefinitely in the country citing double standards by the microblogging and social media platform, and the persistent use of the platform for activities that were “capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.
The suspension was announced despite public outcry, days after Twitter deleted a post by President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly violating its policy.
The Federal Government later set up a dialogue team led by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to interface with Twitter on the way forward.
President Muhammadu Buhari in August directed that the suspension on Twitter be lifted but only if the conditions are met to allow Nigerian citizens continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements.
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