Nigeria has no plan to ban Twitter, other Social Media platforms  –Minister

*Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister for Information and Culture, clarifies the Federal Government is closely monitoring the evolving developments at Twitter, but ‘it has never been our intention to ban any social media platform or stifle free speech’ in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Government has clarified that it has no plan to ban microblogging site Twitter, or any social media platform.

ConsumerConnect reports the government, however, said that the country would not watch any medium to throw the country into chaos under the guise of freedom of speech via social media interactions.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Honourable Minister for Information and Culture, stated this while presenting the scorecard of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from 2015 to 2022, at a press conference Thursday, November 10, 2022, in Abuja, FCT.

Mohammed disclosed that the Federal Government is monitoring Twitter under the new ownership of American billionaire businessman Elon Musk.

The Minister said: “Permit me to quickly address an issue that has elicited a lot of inquiries from the media in recent times.

“Many of your colleagues have called to ask us what will become of our agreement with Twitter in view of the change in its ownership.”

He stated: “Many have asked for our reaction, following reports that there has been a spike in fake news, disinformation, and hate speech since the microblogging site changed ownership.

“Many have even asked us if another ban is in the offing. Let me say this: We are closely monitoring the evolving developments at Twitter.

“It has never been our intention to ban any social media platform or stifle free speech. Not at all.”

He also noted: “What happened in the case of Twitter is well-known to all.

“Twitter became a platform of choice for those who want to destabilise Nigeria using fake news, disinformation, and hate speech.

“No nation will allow any social media platform to plunge it into anarchy. Definitely not Nigeria.”

Mohammed further said: “But we have continued to engage positively with the different social media platforms, including Facebook, Google (owners of YouTube), and Twitter. We have no intention of banning any social media platform again.

“But we will also not sit by and allow any platform whatsoever to throw our nation into crisis.”

It is recalled the country banned Twitter and claimed it was used to spread fake news and hate speech 2021.

The move, was, however, rescinded January this year after the leading social media platform agreed to the government’s terms.

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