Twitter Has Reached Out For Negotiation — FG

Microblogging and social network giants Twitter has reached out
to the Federal Government for negotiations over the recent
suspension of its activities, Minister of Information and Culture
Lai Mohammed has disclosed.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the weekly
Federal Executive Council (FEC), Mohammed said Twitter had reached
out to the government seeking high-level discussion to resolve the
issue.

He said that he got the message on Wednesday morning.

The Minister stressed the micro-blogging platform was suspended
because it provided an avenue for people threatening the corporate
existence of Nigeria.

According to him, the owner of Twitter helped to fuel the recent
#EndSARS protest while allowing the leader of the Indigenous People
of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, use the platform to call for the
killing of policemen.

He said Twitter failed to take down Kanu’s tweets despite
repeated requests to do so.

Mohammed listed conditions that must be met even if there is a
discussion with Twitter including that it must now be registered in
Nigeria as a business concern.

Apart from Twitter, he said other social media platforms like
Facebook and Instagram must be registered in the country.

He said freedom of speech has not been stifled by the suspension
of Twitter as Nigerians can still use other platforms such as
Facebook and Instagram.

He dismissed the notion the suspension is not effective,
wondering why Twitter is losing money as a result of the action if
such view is genuine.

Microblogging and social network giants Twitter has reached out
to the Federal Government for negotiations over the recent
suspension of its activities, Minister of Information and Culture
Lai Mohammed has disclosed.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the weekly
Federal Executive Council (FEC), Mohammed said Twitter had reached
out to the government seeking high-level discussion to resolve the
issue.

He said that he got the message on Wednesday morning.

The Minister stressed the micro-blogging platform was suspended
because it provided an avenue for people threatening the corporate
existence of Nigeria.

According to him, the owner of Twitter helped to fuel the recent
#EndSARS protest while allowing the leader of the Indigenous People
of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, use the platform to call for the
killing of policemen.

He said Twitter failed to take down Kanu’s tweets despite
repeated requests to do so.

Mohammed listed conditions that must be met even if there is a
discussion with Twitter including that it must now be registered in
Nigeria as a business concern.

Apart from Twitter, he said other social media platforms like
Facebook and Instagram must be registered in the country.

He said freedom of speech has not been stifled by the suspension
of Twitter as Nigerians can still use other platforms such as
Facebook and Instagram.

He dismissed the notion the suspension is not effective,
wondering why Twitter is losing money as a result of the action if
such view is genuine.