Initial reports. Please read below for latest reports on this story.
The federal government has given a condition to lift its indefinite suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.
Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, said at a meeting with some envoys that Twitter’s operations in Nigeria will be restored only if the platform can be used “responsibly.”
Asked when the ban will be lifted, Onyeama said there is no definite timeline for that, but added: “The condition would be responsible use of the social media and that really has to be it.”
“We are not saying that Twitter is threatening the country or any such thing; why we have taken this measure is to stop them to be used as platforms for destabilisation and facilitation of criminality or encouragement of criminalities,” he also said.
We Did Not Give Any Condition Regarding Lifting Of Twitter Ban - FG
The Federal government has stated that no condition was given for the lifting of a suspension placed on Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.
On monday, Minister of Foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama met with envoys from the UK, US, Ireland, Canada and the European union to explain the government’s decision on Twitter. It was widely reported that the minister stated the only condition to lift the suspension was for the management of twitter to commit to ‘responsible usage’.
However, in a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA on Monday evening, signed by Mr. Ferdinand Nwoye, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign affairs, the reportage was ‘false’. The statement read;
“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to misleading reports by several media outlets published today, Monday, 7“ June 2021, in which the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama was misquoted as giving conditions for lifting the Twitter suspension.”
“The Honourable Minister after a meeting with some Heads of Diplomatic Missions resident in Nigeria was quoted to have said that “Twitter’s operations in Nigeria will be restored only if the platform can be used responsibly”.”
“This statement by the Honourable Minister has been quoted out of context. Contrary to the publications, the Honourable Minister was speaking generally about the responsibilities that go with freedom of speech, stating that platforms that have the power to instantly disseminate information among billions of people have the added responsibility to exercise that power responsibly.”
“The Ministry wishes to state categorically that the Honourable Minister did not give any conditions regarding lifting the Twitter suspension.”