Lai Mohammed to Lead FG’s Discussion with Twitter Over Suspension

President Buhari has approved the composition of the Federal Government's team to engage with Twitter over the recent suspension of the operations of the microblogging and social networking service in Nigeria.

The approval was announced in a statement released by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who will chair the team.

The Federal Government's team also comprises the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice, Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment as well as other relevant government agencies.

Following the indefinite suspension of its operations in Nigeria for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence, Twitter wrote to President Buhari seeking to engage with the Federal Government over the suspension, with a view to charting a path forward.

Twitter’s operation was suspended indefinitely by the government because of alleged activities that were capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

Many Nigerians believed the knee-jerk action on 5 June was taken because the micro-blogging platform deleted Buhari’s tweets for violating its codes.

Many Nigerians and western nations also condemned the action.

Already 177 Nigerians, along with SERAP, have sued the Nigerian government at ECOWAS Court of Justice, arguing that the ban infringes on the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression.

Another suit is before an Abuja court over the directive to broadcast stations to suspend their Twitter accounts.

June 22, 2021