Twitter pledges commitment to Nigeria as consumers react to restoration of Big Tech’s operations

*The global tech giant restates its mission in the West African country and around the world is to serve the public conversation, and Twitter is ‘deeply committed to the country’, where consumers use Twitter for commerce, cultural engagement and civic participation

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Sequel to the Nigerian Government’s recent lifting of suspension of the global tech giant’s operations in the West African country, Twitter, a microblogging site and leading social media platform, has reacted to the decision to lift the restrictions hitherto placed on it June 2021.

ConsumerConnect reports that Twitter, again, officially became accessible midnight Thursday, January 13, 2022, after the Federal Government had lifted a seven-month suspension on the activities of the Big Tech.

Twitter’s Public Policy team said in a tweet Thursday said: “We are pleased that Twitter has been restored for everyone in Nigeria.

“Our mission in Nigeria and around the world is to serve the public conversation.

The company stated: “We are deeply committed to Nigeria, where Twitter is used by people for commerce, cultural engagement, and civic participation.

Earlier, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in a statement issued Wednesday, January 12, in Abuja, FCT, noted that “President Muhammadu Buhari . . . has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12 a.m. tonight.”

Though the government halted Twitter operations after the company had deleted one of  President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweets, whaich had provoked an international outcry over freedom of expression of Nigerian consumers.

However, top govermnet officials at the time contended that the suspension of the company’s operations had nothing to do with Twitter’s deleting Buhari’s tweets.

Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in the wake of the suspension June last year also said: “There has been a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real-world violent consequences.

All the while, the company has escaped accountability.”

Shehu stated: “Major tech companies must be alive to their responsibilities. They cannot be allowed to continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic, and false messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to the loss of many lives. This could tear some countries apart.”

The United States (US), European Union (EU), Canada, civil society organisations were among those who joined rights groups in condemning the ban since June 2021, disagreeing that the Federal Government’s action was damaging to freedom of expression in Africa’s most populous country.

It’s end of an era for VPN to access Twitter: Nigerians

Meanwhile, amid the euphoria of the removal of the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria, consumers at diverse locations, and in cyberspace have come to celebrate the end of an era of using “Virtual Private Network” (VPN) to access the social media platform.

Mobile Internet consumers in Nigeria

It was gathered that some said the lifting of suspension was necessary since the platform would be important in promoting the country’s activities in the build up to the upcoming General Elections in 2023.

Ejiro Amoh, a graduate of Computer Science from University of Abuja (UniAbuja), said she appreciated the Federal Government for lifting the Twitter ban to curb the spread of fake news in the country, agency report said.

Amoh stated: “The Federal Government said it banned Twitter because of fake news and the conditions met by Twitter before it lifted the ban were made public.

“I just want the government to continue its good work by ensuring that those who steal our common wealth are also punished.

“Just like they (officials) have held Twitter accountable, our political office holders who steal our funds for their personal use should be held accountable using our laws.”

James Fred, an Information Technology (IT) expert and coach, also said the lifting of the Twitter ban was done at the right time as a lot of online businesses which relied heavily on twitter had suffered setbacks.

The Federal Government’s earlier decision to ban Twitter triggered widespread criticism as online-based businesses recorded huge losses, Fred noted.

According to him, the suspension of the firm’s operations was met with lawsuits filed against the Federal Government and National Assembly (NASS) by some social media users.

The IT professional and coach further said the small businesses that suffered loss of revenues and opportunities during the ban to maximise another chance they have now in other to recover.

Fred added: “I urge small businesses that lost revenues and opportunities during the ban to maximise another chance they have now in other to recover speedily.

“They should deploy creative promotions to help them with the recovery.”

Sheidu Jacob, a civil servant, also added his voice to the discourse, that “I have forgotten my password and had since deleted the App from my phone. But with this news now, I re-downloaded the App immediately and it has started working.

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