On the 4th of June 2021, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced the suspension of Twitter’s operation in the country.
This was made known by the country’s Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed during a press conference.
According to the Minister, the action was taken “due to the persistent use of the platform for activities which are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”
He further added that the Federal Government had directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.
Recall that earlier in the week, a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari threatening to deal with those who want to destroy Nigeria was deleted by Twitter.
Meanwhile, the sanction on the services of Twitter is indefinite.
Reactions have however trailed the decision of the Federal Government.
The suspension of the activities of @Twitter in Nigeria by the @MBuhari administration should be ignored by @Jack. The Buhari government has no means of enforcing the suspension. Even officials of the Buhari regime are still on Twitter#TwitterSuspendBuharisAccount#TableShaker
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 4, 2021
Hopefully, this isn't my last tweet. #smile
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) June 4, 2021
No sir! This should not be the response from the president of a nation with a vibrant youthful population for whom #Twitter is part of their daily lives and a source of their income and livelihood.
This must be reviewed.
— Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) June 4, 2021
As leaders, we should go beyond emotional reactions to issues and think about how our actions will affect the people we lead and our international ratings socially and economically.
— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) June 5, 2021
I said it before and let me reiterate it again that it is only a 'jonah' in a ship that can make such pronouncement, suspending Twitter from the country. God, please save us from President Buhari, ‘the jonah in our ship'.
— Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) June 4, 2021
The suspension of @Twitter by the FG has proved to the civilised world that they are weak, unstable, paranoid, insensitive, vindictive & delusional. It is a grave abuse of power & a perfidious, insidious & brazen attempt to deny the Nigerian people of their right to free speech.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) June 5, 2021
The @NigBarAssoc 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.
— Olumide Akpata (@OlumideAkpata) June 4, 2021
