FG suspends Twitter ‘indefinitely’ in Nigeria, orders licensing of all social media operations

THE Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in Abuja tday, citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

In a statement titled, ‘FG Suspends Twitter’s Operations in Nigeria,’ Special Assistant on Media to the information minister, Segun Adeyemi, said:

“The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.”

“The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

“The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria”.

Recall that the FG had condemned Twitter’s decision to delete President Buhari’s tweet wherein he appeared to issue warning to Nigerians threatening the nation.

Mohammed insinuated that the American microblogging platform showed sympathy for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.