- Says Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Others Must Register in Nigeria
THE Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has revealed that Twitter has approached the federal government for dialogue with a view to resolving the problem that led to the suspension of its operations in Nigeria.
The minister told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the presidential villa, Abuja on Wednesday. He said he got the message from Twitter seeking dialogue with the government over the suspension order on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
He maintained that the social media platform was suspended because it provided an avenue for unpatriotic elements bent on destroying the corporate existence of Nigeria. He said the owner of Twitter helped to fund the recent #EndSARS protest while allowing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to use the platform to call for the killing of security agents and destruction of public facilities. He said Twitter failed to take down Kanu’s tweets in spite of repeated requests to do so.
The minister 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. He said that other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram must also be registered so that the country could be able to generate revenue from their operations.
“Our decision to suspend Twitter has been lauded by some; it has been decried by some. But let me make it clear that what’s important to us is the sovereignty of Nigeria and until then Twitter is paused; and the cardinal thing is that Twitter must be registered in Nigeria, Twitter must be licenced in Nigeria and Twitter must stop using its platform for activities that are inimical to the growth of Nigeria or to its corporate existence,” the minister stated.
He said freedom of speech has not been stifled by the suspension of Twitter as he maintained that Nigerians can still use other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. He also denied that the suspension is not effective, arguing that “Twitter is losing money as a result of the action’’.
