Unic Press UK: The Nigerian Government has announced its decision to place an indefinite suspension of Twitter in the country.
In a statement Friday signed by Segun Adeyemi, the Special Assistant to the President (Media) in the office of the Minister of Information and Culture, the Government said:
“The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of
the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension 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.”
Nigerians and NGOs react on Twitter
Olumide Akpata, president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said: “The NBA has noted with great concern the extraordinary decision of the Federal Govt to suspend the operations of Twitter in Nigeria and, by necessary implication, the right of Nigerians to freely express their constitutionally guaranteed opinions through that medium. The NBA finds no constitutional or legal authority to support the peremptory action of the Federal Government to suspend the operations of Twitter in Nigeria. Beyond the dent on our constitutional democracy, at a time when the Nigerian economy is unarguably struggling… the impact of arbitrary decisions such as this on investor confidence is better imagined. Consequently, if this decision is not immediately reversed, the NBA will have no choice but to challenge same in the interest of the public and for the sake of our democracy.”
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) says it would sue the Nigerian Government
BREAKING: We're suing Nigerian authorities over their ILLEGAL indefinite suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.
Nigerians have a right to freedom of expression and access to information including online, and we plan to fight to keep it that way.@NigeriaGov, we'll see you in court.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) June 4, 2021
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, says the Nigerian Government decision will hurt people and businesses as the country ends up suspending itself, not Twitter.
Suspending @Twitter can’t hurt @jack but will surely hurt millions of Nigerians, (mostly the YOUTH) that are on Twitter. Nigerian public & private sectors will also be hurt.
So, Nigeria did not suspend Twitter. Nigeria suspended itself on Twitter & announced it on Twitter. #Zoo pic.twitter.com/hvyiIqbzB0
— Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (@MaziNnamdiKanu) June 4, 2021
Twitter suspension;a bad legacy.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) June 4, 2021