The President, Muhammadu Buhari, has lifted the suspension on Twitter operations in the country, effective from 12 am, January 13, 2022.
The announcement comes 222 days, after the federal government slammed a suspension on the micro media outfit for suspending the president’s account over a comment it considered against its policy.
This was disclosed in a press statement on Wednesday signed by the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency and Chairman Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement, Kashifu Abdullahi.
The statement read in part, “The Federal Government of Nigeria directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12 am tonight, January 13, 2022.
“The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami.”
According to him, the cause of the suspension was due to unceasing use of the platform by some unscrupulous elements for subversive purposes and criminal activities, propagating fake news, and polarising Nigerians along tribal and religious lines, among others.
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Abdullahi said issues bordering on national security, cohesion and the effects of the abuse of the Twitter platform forced the government to suspend the operation to address the direct and collateral issues around its operations in Nigeria.
He added that the process of resolving the impasse between the FGN and Twitter Inc. helped lay a foundation for a mutually-beneficial future with endless possibilities.
The statement read in part, “The FGN has asked Twitter to fulfil some conditions before restoring its services. These conditions addressed legal registration of operations, taxation, and managing prohibited publication in line with Nigerian laws.
“Twitter has agreed to meet all the conditions set by the FGN. Consequently, the FGN and Twitter have decided on an execution timeline, which has started this week. Our engagement with Twitter opens a new chapter in global digital diplomacy and sets a new operational template for Twitter to come back stronger for the benefit of Nigerians.”