Chisaa Okoye
The Federal Government of Nigeria is close to lifting the temporary ban on Twitter operations in the country, a source within the Aso Rock hinted on Wednesday.
According to the source, Nigeria government representatives met on Wednesday with management of Twitter, where decisions were reached on the conditions to be met for Twitter’s continued operations in Nigeria.
The conditions, the source said included that the platform must be duely registered and licensed to operate in Nigeria in line with her laid down rules and regulations such operations.
The Aso Rock source emphatically stated the suspension of the social media platform Twitter in the country “will be lifted very soon as the FG has reconsidered its decision and has promised to make a formal announcement to that effect very very soon”.
The source maintained that the federal government had no regret taking the decision despite public outcry and barrage criticisms that greeted the suspension, as “it was not taken in bad fate but to preserved Nigeria’s corporate existence.”
“Nigeria’s Representatives are close to sealing agreement with management of Twitter on how the microblogging platform can continue its operations in Nigeria without allowing it to be used by enemies of the country to achieve their evil aims.
“Discussions centred around strict considerations to Nigeria’s corporate existence, making sure tweets that are capable of causing disunity, fueling crises and breakdown of law and order are not allowed. Negotiations are at top gear currently and agreements already reached on the issues at stak. So hopefully, the issue would be resolved soon. Nigerians are losing so also is Twitter. So the ban will be lifted soon”, the source said.
He however declined to mention the exact day the suspension would be lifted but asserted it would take place in days.
Last week, the Nigerian government suspended indefinitely the operations of the microblogging and social networking service Twitter, citing its presistent use for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, by his aide.
The Federal Government of Nigeria had also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.
Although FG dismissed reports that the ban was in response to the decision of Twitter to delete President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweets threatening those causing mayhem in Nigeria when he referenced Nigeria’s civil war events, many Nigerians, the diplomatic missions and others, criticised the ban as dictatorial and an infringement on the fundamental rights of Nigerians.
However, following series of appeals from well-meaning Nigerians and after meetings with various Diplomatic Missions in the country, the Nigerian government is said to be reconsidering its decision and has directed that steps be taken to lift the ban.
Lai Mohammed confirmed a meeting with management of Twitter while addressing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council on Wednesday.
According to the minister, Twitter reached out to the Federal Government on Wednesday morning on the need to resolve the issue amicably, pointing out however that the ban has so far been very eeffective given the huge financial losses recorded by Twitter.
He reiterated that Twitter has been a platform of choice for separatists to thrive and would be disallowed from operating until it is duely registered, licensed, and operates within regulations.