The Federal Government of Nigeria has lifted a ban on the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in the West African country that had been in place since June 4 last year.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), noted in a statement that the government had lifted the suspension of Twitter’s operations from midnight of January 13, 2022.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter’s operation in Nigeria effective from 12 am tonight, 13th January 2022.
“The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim”.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi
The President constituted a seven-man presidential committee to engage Twitter Inc. Subsequently, the committee established a 20-member technical committee comprising all relevant government agencies. The technical committee engaged and worked directly with the Twitter team.
Abdullahi’s statement noted that the government has achieved positive results in its negotiations with Twitter. He disclosed that Twitter has agreed to act with a respectful acknowledgment of Nigerian culture, history, and laws.
Rationale for blocking Twitter
The West African nation blocked Twitter after the social media platform deleted a tweet from President Muhammadu Buhari in which he addressed secessionists in remarks perceived as threatening.
In addition, the suspension was due to the unceasing use of the platform by some unscrupulous elements for subversive purposes and criminal activities, propagating fake news, and polarizing Nigerians along tribal and religious lines.
According to the statement, these issues bordering on national security, cohesion, and the effects of the abuse of the Twitter platform forced the government to suspend the operations of Twitter to address the direct and collateral issues around its operations in Nigeria.
The statement added that Twitter has committed to establishing a legal entity in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2022. The entity will register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The establishment of the entity is Twitter’s first step in demonstrating its long-term commitment to Nigeria. Twitter has agreed to appoint a designated country representative to interface with Nigerian authorities. The Global Public Policy team is also directly available through a dedicated communication channel.
According to research conducted, in Africa’s largest economy, three-quarters of the population of 200 million are younger than 24, a generation that is also hyper-connected to social media.
Nigeria’s halt of Twitter operations in June provoked an international outcry over freedom of expression. The government and Twitter have been in negotiations aimed at restoring the service based on a set of conditions, including Twitter registering its operations in Nigeria.
The ban shocked many in Nigeria, where Twitter has had a major role in political discourse, with the hashtags #BringBackOurGirls after Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls in 2014.
Young activists also turned to Twitter last year to organize the #EndSARS protests against police brutality that eventually grew into the largest demonstrations in Nigeria’s modern history before these young activists were repressed.
Residents confirmed on Thursday, January 13, 2022, that Twitter is up and running once again in Africa’s most populous nation and the technology hub of Africa.
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