Nigeria said it suspended Twitter indefinitely on Friday, two days after the company removed a Tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari for violating the site’s rules, according to BBC.
A statement by the government on the suspension cited, “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”
Saturday, In a public statement, Twitter said, “We are deeply concerned by the blocking of Twitter in Nigeria. Access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential human right in modern society. We will work to restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world. #KeepitOn”
Major network providers disconnected Twitter as of 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Gbenga Awonuga, executive secretary of the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria, said to reporters by phone. Twitter was still accessible in some cases on Saturday morning, he said network carriers “are in the process of disconnecting access” across all platforms.
“Our members received formal instruction from the Nigerian Communications Commission, the industry regulator, to suspend access to Twitter,” Awonuga said. “We are only following the directive of the government, as we are licensees of the government.”
According to Peoples Gazette, the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has directed for the immediate prosecution of offenders of the Federal Government ban on Twitter operations in Nigeria.
Malami directed the DPPF to liaise with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, National Communication Communication (NCC), and other relevant government agencies to ensure the speedy prosecution of offenders without delay.
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