President Buhari Issues Conditions For Resumption of Twitter Operations

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed a conditional lifting of the ban placed on the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.

Buhari disclosed this during his broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 61st independence.

He stated that Twitter must meet the government’s conditions before the suspension of the social media platform will be lifted.

What are the Conditions?

The conditions listed include: – Priority of national security to avoid cohesion.

• Registration with the Nigerian government
• Physical presence and representation in Nigeria
• Attention to dispute resolution
• Investment in local content.

Buhari said he has “directed that the suspension be lifted but only if the conditions are meant”

He described Twitter as a very useful platform but regretted that some citizens have misused it to organise, coordinate, and propagate fake news, and promote ethnic and religious sentiments.

The social media platform, has been inaccessible in Nigeria for nearly three months except for residents that bypassed the ban through the use of VPNs.

What led to the ban on Twitter?

In June, the Nigerian government had suspended Twitter after it deleted one of the President’s tweets about a controversial secessionist movement in Nigeria. 

Twitter was also accused of raising funds to support EndSARS protesters which led to the killing of innocent civilians, 37 police officers, 6 soldiers in addition to destruction of properties.

Since the ban, patronage on most businesses in the country has been significantly low.

The suspension has been condemned by many Nigerians and the international community at large, as a clampdown on the freedom of expression.

Following the suspension of Twitter operations in the country, Twitter Inc. reached out to the Federal Government. A Committee was set up along with its Technical Team, to engage with Twitter and address a number of key issues.

Nigeria recently said Twitter had agreed to 7 out if 10 of it’s demands in restoring the platform, including the demand to set up a Twitter office in the country.