Nigeria Suspends Twitter: Platform Accused of Undermining Corporate Existence

Nigeria Suspends Twitter Operations

The Nigerian government, acting through its Ministry of Information and Culture, has declared the suspension of Twitter’s operations within the nation’s borders.

This decision was communicated today by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and officially confirmed by his media assistant, Segun Adeyemi. The directive potentially empowers telecommunication companies operating in Nigeria to block access to the Twitter platform for its citizens.

Official Statement from the Ministry

The current suspension represents the outcome of a series of occurrences over the past week. Specifically, Twitter removed posts and video content featuring President Muhammadu Buhari.

These removed materials contained statements where the President threatened repercussions against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group operating in the South-Eastern region of the country. President Buhari had attributed recent attacks on government facilities to this group.

He further referenced events from Nigeria’s civil war during the 1960s, a comparison that sparked considerable offense among many Nigerians.

President Buhari’s Comments and Twitter’s Response

President Buhari, who previously served as Head of State in the 1980s and participated in the military conflict against secessionists, stated that younger Nigerians in the southeastern part of the country lacked firsthand knowledge of the war’s devastating consequences.

He expressed concern that the actions of contemporary secessionist movements could escalate into another armed conflict, and therefore advocated for preemptive action through the use of force. He stated, “Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”

Twitter’s decision to delete the President’s tweet was based on a violation of its policy regarding abusive behavior, coupled with widespread demands from Nigerian users for its removal. The platform also temporarily restricted the President’s account, placing it in a “read-only” state for a period of 12 hours.

Government Criticism and Retaliation

In response, Mr. Mohammed criticized Twitter’s actions as biased, asserting that the President has the right to voice his opinions on matters impacting the nation. He also questioned the platform’s underlying motives within Nigeria. “Twitter may have its own rules; it’s not the universal rule. If Mr President anywhere in the world feels very bad and concerned about a situation, he is free to express such views… The mission of Twitter in Nigeria is very, very suspect,” he explained.

As a retaliatory measure, Nigeria has now proceeded with suspending Twitter’s operations. Despite the absence of official Twitter offices within the country, this announcement is expected to be implemented.

Nigeria’s current administration has a history of attempting to restrict access to the internet, specific websites, or social media platforms. Similar tactics were employed during the EndSARS protests in October 2020. This action mirrors patterns observed in other African nations where internet access has been curtailed, suggesting a deliberate strategy by the Nigerian government to suppress freedom of expression.

Twitter’s Response

Twitter, which recently established its first African office in Ghana, issued a statement to TechCrunch expressing “deep concern” regarding the Nigerian government’s suspension of its operations. The company indicated it is investigating the situation and will provide further updates as information becomes available.

The microblogging platform also communicated via its public policy account on Twitter.

Earlier in April, Twitter selected Ghana as its African headquarters, rather than Nigeria, citing Ghana’s commitment to free speech, online freedom, and the Open Internet as key factors in its decision. This choice appears prescient in light of recent developments.

This is an ongoing story…