The Federal Government of Nigeria has lifted the Twitter suspension that has been on since last year. Twitter was officially suspended on the 5th of June, 2021 following allegations that the platform promoted both criminal and unscrupulous activities, and that it was a threat to national security.
Starting 12 am on the 13th of January 2022, Nigerians will be able to access the microblogging platform and for those who have been using the platform irrespective of the ban thanks to the VPN loophole, they no longer have to go through the stress just to access the platform. The announcement was issued in a statement by the Chairman Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement and Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.
According to him, the approval came in a memo written to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Professor Isa Pantami – the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.
The statement that bore the new development read “The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12 am tonight, 13th January 2022. The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim. In the Memo, the Minister updates and requests the President’s approval for the lifting based on the Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement’s recommendation”.
The statement went on to say that “The new global reality is that digital platforms and their operators wield enormous influence over the fabric of our society, social interaction and economic choices. These platforms can be used as either a tool or a weapon. Every nation is grappling with how to balance its usage efficiently. Without balancing, every citizen’s security, privacy, social well-being, and development are at stake. The process of resolving this impasse between the FGN and Twitter Inc. has helped lay a foundation for a mutually beneficial future with endless possibilities”.
Nigerians have started sharing their opinions about the announcement on various social media platforms already.
Twitter has also resounded its willingness to work with the Federal Government to ensure the smooth running of its operations in Nigeria.
