The federal government on Friday has suspended Twitter’s operations in Nigeria following it’s decision to delete President Muhammadu Buhari tweet on Wednesday.
The suspension as announced by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed is indefinite.
Mohammed made the announcement in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.
It wasn’t clear the exact time the ban however would be enforced, checks by DAILY GIST shows Nigerian users still have access to the platform as at the time of publishing this report.
Twitter had on Wednesday taken down President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet on dealing with those fomenting trouble in some parts of the country.
President Buhari had said those misbehaving would be treated in the language they understand.
The president said those plotting the downfall of his administration will soon get the shock of their lives.
”Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”Buhari had tweeted.
There was however a massive outrage on Twitter as many users accused the president of threatening a section of the country.
They also asked Twitter to suspend the president account, whom they accused of bias.
On Wednesday, Twitter pin-point one of the tweets, saying it violates its rules.
Reacting to the development on Wednesday, the Minister of Information and Culture accused Twitter of a double standard.Mohammed said the social media giant had conveniently ignored inciting tweets by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and his cohorts.
He said Twitter ignored Kalu’s remarks that encouraged the killing of Police personnel and the show of similar biases during the ENDSARS protest where government and private properties were looted and set on fire, considering it human rights.
Mohammed, who wondered why the organisation now found President Buhari’s tweet offensive, said Twitter’s role is suspicious and Nigeria will not be fooled.
