Tobias Sylvester
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has revealed that the Federal Government will soon lift the Twitter ban in Nigeria.
Mohammed disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the First Lady’s Conference room, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
KanyiDaily recalls that the Nigerian government had suspended Twitter on June 4, 2021, after it removed a post from President Muhammadu Buhari that threatened to punish regional secessionists “in the language they understand”.
The FG had interpreted the deletion of Buhari’s tweets as discourteous and hinged upon “a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real-world violent consequences”.
Nigeria To Lift Twitter Ban Soon – Lai Mohammed
When asked to give an update on the Twitter ban in Nigeria on Wednesday, Mohammed said that some of the conditions given to Twitter to resume operations in Nigeria include that social media platform should establish legal presence in the country, register as a Nigerian company with an address.
It should also have a Country Representative that will serve as a liaison and must register with relevant regulatory agencies including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The FG is also demanding that Twitter must commit itself to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), adding that Twitter has “shown a lot of flexibility, the conversation has not been acrimonious.”
Twitter Agrees To Open Office In Nigeria
Mohammed said Twitter has also agreed to set up an office in Nigeria with staff, adding that the company however maintained that the earliest it can achieve that is in 2022.
“The end for amicable resolution is very much in sight. We have agreed on some areas. Hopefully, in the next few days or weeks we will conclude.
“We appreciate the patience of Nigerians. I want to assure you that we have made very tremendous progress. We have met with Twitter both physically and in writing. We are actually almost there.
“The engagement has been extremely positive without any acrimony. We have made it clear what we want from Twitter,” Mohammed said.
Lai Mohammed expressed confidence that everything will be ironed out with Twitter within “matter days or weeks”, adding that the FG’s committee negotiating with the social media company will soon meet to make recommendations.
KanyiDaily recalls that the US government has called on Buhari to immediately reverse Twitter ban in Nigeria which is the home to Africa’s largest tech hub.
