Nigeria Government Sets Conditions for Lifting Twitter Ban, Insists on Registration and Licensing

Strategic Insights -

The federal government in Nigeria has outlined the conditions necessary for the lifting of the ban on Twitter operations in the country. Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated that apart from being registered in the country, Twitter must also be licenced and stop using its platform for activities that hamper the growth and corporate existence of Nigeria. Mohammed explained that the suspension of Twitter was due to the platform providing an avenue for people threatening the country's corporate existence and allowing separatist leaders to call for the killing of policemen.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Nigerian government has set conditions for lifting the ban on Twitter operations, including registration and licensing.
  • Twitter must stop using its platform for activities that are inimical to the growth of Nigeria and its corporate existence.
  • The suspension of Twitter was due to the platform providing an avenue for people threatening the country's corporate existence.
  • Twitter allegedly allowed separatist leaders to call for the killing of policemen, despite repeated requests to take down the tweets.
  • The minister noted that the owner of Twitter helped to fund the #EndSARS protest and allowed the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to use the platform to call for the killing of policemen.
  • The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has commenced the process of licensing all Over The Top (OTT) social media operations in Nigeria.
  • Twitter has consistently made its platform available to those who are threatening Nigeria's corporate existence, according to the minister.
  • The minister insisted that the ban is effective, citing the fact that Twitter is losing money as a result of the action.
  • The ban does not stifle freedom of speech, as other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are still available for Nigerians to express themselves.
  • The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the international community to impose visa ban on President Muhammadu Buhari and his cabinet members involved in stifling free speech.

Statistics:

  • No specific statistics were mentioned in the article regarding the number of people affected by the ban or the revenue lost by Twitter.
  • The article mentions that Twitter is allegedly losing "billions of Naira every day" as a result of the ban.

Sources:

  • The federal government in Nigeria (no specific publication or date mentioned)
  • Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture (no specific publication or date mentioned)
  • The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (no specific publication or date mentioned)