NCC Orders Telcos To Effect Twitter Ban

Telecoms operators said they have received instructions from the
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to effect suspension of
services of micro blogging platform Twitter.

The carriers, acting under the aegis of Association of Licensed
Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said they have conducted
assessment of the request according to international best
practices.

Its Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, in a statement, said: “We, the
Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria
(ALTON) wish to confirm that our members have received formal
instructions from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the
industry regulator to suspend access to Twitter.

“ALTON has conducted a robust assessment of the request in
accordance with internationally accepted principles.

“Based on national interest provisions in the Nigerian
Communications Act, 2003, and within the licence terms under which
the industry operates; our members have acted in compliance with
the directives of the NCC the industry regulator.

“We will continue to engage all the relevant authorities and
stakeholders and will act as may be further directed by the
NCC.

“We remain committed to supporting the government of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and upholding the rights of citizens.

“As an industry, we endorse the position of the United Nations
that the rights held by people offline must also be protected
online.

“This includes respecting and protecting the rights of all
people to communicate, to share information freely and responsibly,
and to enjoy privacy and security regarding their data and their
use of digital communications.”

Telecoms operators said they have received instructions from the
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to effect suspension of
services of micro blogging platform Twitter.

The carriers, acting under the aegis of Association of Licensed
Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said they have conducted
assessment of the request according to international best
practices.

Its Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, in a statement, said: “We, the
Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria
(ALTON) wish to confirm that our members have received formal
instructions from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the
industry regulator to suspend access to Twitter.

“ALTON has conducted a robust assessment of the request in
accordance with internationally accepted principles.

“Based on national interest provisions in the Nigerian
Communications Act, 2003, and within the licence terms under which
the industry operates; our members have acted in compliance with
the directives of the NCC the industry regulator.

“We will continue to engage all the relevant authorities and
stakeholders and will act as may be further directed by the
NCC.

“We remain committed to supporting the government of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and upholding the rights of citizens.

“As an industry, we endorse the position of the United Nations
that the rights held by people offline must also be protected
online.

“This includes respecting and protecting the rights of all
people to communicate, to share information freely and responsibly,
and to enjoy privacy and security regarding their data and their
use of digital communications.”