FG Gives Condition To Lift Ban On Twitter

The federal government has given a condition to lift its
indefinite suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.

Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, said at a meeting
with some envoys that Twitter’s operations in Nigeria will be
restored only if the platform can be used “responsibly”.

Asked when the ban will be lifted, Onyeama said there is no
definite timeline for that, but added: “The condition would be
responsible use of the social media and that really has to be
it.”

“We are not saying that Twitter is threatening the country or
any such thing; why we have taken this measure is to stop them to
be used as platforms for destabilisation and facilitation of
criminality or encouragement of criminalities,” he also said.

At the meeting held in Abuja on Monday were the envoys of the
US, UK, Canada and the European Union, all of whom had condemned
the “indefinite” suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.

Despite the government’s claim that Twitter is being used to
undermine the existence of Nigeria, some have argued the suspension
may be connected to the company’s decision to delete President
Muhammadu Buhari tweet recently.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the envoys had said:
“We strongly support the fundamental human right of free expression
and access to information as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria as
around the world and these rights apply online as well as offline.
Banning systems of expression is not the answer.”

This prompted the federal government to invite them to the
meeting. After the parley held behind closed doors, Oneyema said
both parties had successful discussions on the issue.

The minister said the government takes the comments of the
envoys “very seriously”, hence the decision to discuss the matter
with them in the “usual friendly way.”

He, however, insisted that the Buhari administration has to keep
an eye on its “main objective and legacy” which, according to him,
is the security of lives and property.

He said Nigeria will nowt sit back and watch social media being
used to “destabilise” the country, adding: “We want to use social
media for good.”

“Differences of opinion is not a problem; everybody will not
think alike,” Onyeama said.

“But lives matter; Nigerian lives matter and we have to do
everything we can to preserve Nigerian lives. And when we feel our
goals are threatened, actions need to be taken.”

The federal government has given a condition to lift its
indefinite suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.

Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, said at a meeting
with some envoys that Twitter’s operations in Nigeria will be
restored only if the platform can be used “responsibly”.

Asked when the ban will be lifted, Onyeama said there is no
definite timeline for that, but added: “The condition would be
responsible use of the social media and that really has to be
it.”

“We are not saying that Twitter is threatening the country or
any such thing; why we have taken this measure is to stop them to
be used as platforms for destabilisation and facilitation of
criminality or encouragement of criminalities,” he also said.

At the meeting held in Abuja on Monday were the envoys of the
US, UK, Canada and the European Union, all of whom had condemned
the “indefinite” suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.

Despite the government’s claim that Twitter is being used to
undermine the existence of Nigeria, some have argued the suspension
may be connected to the company’s decision to delete President
Muhammadu Buhari tweet recently.

In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the envoys had said:
“We strongly support the fundamental human right of free expression
and access to information as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria as
around the world and these rights apply online as well as offline.
Banning systems of expression is not the answer.”

This prompted the federal government to invite them to the
meeting. After the parley held behind closed doors, Oneyema said
both parties had successful discussions on the issue.

The minister said the government takes the comments of the
envoys “very seriously”, hence the decision to discuss the matter
with them in the “usual friendly way.”

He, however, insisted that the Buhari administration has to keep
an eye on its “main objective and legacy” which, according to him,
is the security of lives and property.

He said Nigeria will nowt sit back and watch social media being
used to “destabilise” the country, adding: “We want to use social
media for good.”

“Differences of opinion is not a problem; everybody will not
think alike,” Onyeama said.

“But lives matter; Nigerian lives matter and we have to do
everything we can to preserve Nigerian lives. And when we feel our
goals are threatened, actions need to be taken.”