By Nicholas Ojo
The Federal Government on Thursday disclosed that it will monitor closely the activities of the popular micro-blogging platform, Twitter, following Elon Musk’s takeover of the San Francisco-based organisation in October 2022.
Recall that the Nigerian government announced the suspension of Twitter operations on June 4, 2021, after it deleted a post by President Muhammadu Buhari for “violation of the company’s abusive behavior policy.”
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The government lifted the suspension after 222 days.
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, who made this known on Thursday while making his opening remarks at the 3rd edition of the Ministerial Media Briefing to showcase the achievements of President Buhari’s scorecard between 2015 and 2023, said there was no intention to ban any social media platform again.
The Minister noted that the government has resolved not to allow any social media platform to spread fake news, disinformation and hate speech.
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According to Mohammed, the government has continued to engage positively with the different social media platforms, including Facebook, Google (owners of YouTube) and Twitter.
“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. What happened in the case of Twitter is well known to all.
“Twitter became a platform of choice for those who want to destabilize Nigeria, using fake news, disinformation and hate speech. No nation will allow any social media platform to plunge it into anarchy. Definitely not Nigeria.
“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,” he said.
The briefing also had Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika and the two permanent secretaries of both ministries in attendance.
