FG rescinds Twitter suspension after 222 days, N546.5b economic losses
The Twitter ban in Nigeria has been lifted by the Federal government after 222days of inactivity with a record of N546.5billion losses to the economy.
The decision to rescind the suspension was announced in a statement by the Chairman Technical Committee, Nigeria-Twitter Engagement and Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.
According to him, the Federal Government directed him to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the lifting of the ban effective from 12:00 a.m. this morning.
The statement reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12 am tonight, 13th January 2022,” the statement read.
“The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim. In the Memo, the minister updated and requested the President’s approval for the lifting based on the Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement’s recommendation.”
Abdullahi also noted in the statement that Twitter has agreed to set “a legal entity in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2022.” The establishment of Twitter’s legal entity, according to the statement, is the social media giant’s “first step in demonstrating its long-term commitment to Nigeria.”
It would be recalled that the Federal Government announced the suspension of Twitter on the 4th of June 2021, after the social media platform deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Telecommunication companies had on June 5 blocked access to Twitter after receiving a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to that effect.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari in his Independence Day speech hinted that the ban would continue until Twitter is registered in Nigeria, has a physical presence, and representation.
Also, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo said Twitter had agreed to the nation’s conditions for the suspension to be lifted.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Comment
No comments found.