President Muhammadu Buhari has lifted the ban on Twitter, the world’s largest social media platform on a conditional basis.
The president stated this position during a broadcast in Abuja on Friday to commemorate Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary. On June 5, the Federal Government suspended Twitter’s operations in Nigeria to allow the government to implement measures to address identified negative trends on the social media platform.
Buhari announced that the Presidential Committee he established, along with its Technical Team, to engage Twitter and explore the possibility of resolving the issue that resulted in Twitter suspending operations in Nigeria had addressed a number of critical issues.
“Following the suspension of Twitter operations, Twitter Inc. attempted to resolve the impasse by contacting the Federal Government of Nigeria. Subsequently, I convened a Presidential Committee to engage Twitter in an effort to resolve the matter.
“The Committee, in collaboration with its Technical Team, reached out to Twitter and addressed a number of critical issues. These include national security and cohesion; registration, physical presence, and representation; equitable taxation; alternative dispute resolution; and local content.
“Following extensive engagements, the issues have been resolved, and I have directed that the suspension be lifted, but only if the conditions necessary to allow our citizens to continue using the platform for business and positive engagements are met.”
