The Nigeria government reacted after halide halted Twitter operations in June after the company deleted a comment by Buhari, provoking an international outcry over freedom of expression. Nigeria’s government on Wednesday said it had ended its suspension of Twitter, seven months after banning the social media giant in a dispute over a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Nigeria banned the operation of Twitter in June following the deletion of a comment post by the president, Muhammadu Buhari. This led to an international protest over freedom of expression.
Research has shown that about 40 million people or around 20 percent of Nigeria’s population have a Twitter account, according to local researchers, and many used the platform for business. The ban on Twitter however has cost many Nigerians a lot of money especially those businesses that rely on the platform for publicity, customer connection, and business promotions.
Despite the ban on Twitter, many Nigerians were able to bypass the ban by using Virtual Private Network (VPN) to remain active on the social media platform. The United States, European Union, and Canada were among the parties who joined rights groups in condemning the ban as it is damaging to freedom of expression which is one of the fundamental human rights.
The Twitter ban was a major blow to Nigerians who have used social media platforms to voice out their worries and opinions especially during the periods when Boko Haram kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls in 2014 using #BringBackOurGirls and #EndSARS which was during the anti-police brutality protests in 2020. Several Nigerian officials had frowned at Twitter for deleting Buhari’s comment while accusing the platform of allowing activities that pose as threats to the country’s existence.
It was also noted that some activists have been using this media platform as a means of spreading information which served as the basis for the immediate and remote cause of the suspension. There is an unceasing use of the platform by some unscrupulous elements for subversive purposes and criminal activities, propagating fake news, and polarising Nigerians.
The two parties have since then been in negotiations over restoring the service which would be based on certain terms and conditions including Twitter registering its operations in Nigeria. The national information technology development agency (NITDA) made this statement on the order of the president of the federal republic of Nigeria. The chairman of the agency and also one of the committee members during the negotiations, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said that the social media giant has agreed to the rules and regulations to restore service in the country.
Part of the agreement includes; the company agreeing to work with the federal government to develop a code of conduct in line with global practices which is seen in other developed countries. Twitter has agreed to pay applicable tax obligations on its operation as stated in Nigerian law. They will also appoint a special country representative who will be standing in for the company during talks with the Nigerian Government when required. They are to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
These set regulations are believed to promote a better understanding between the social media company and the government of Nigeria.