Buhari Lifts Ban On Twitter — But With Strict Conditions

• Nigeria’s government blocked Twitter in 2021 following deletion of President Buhari tweet
• Twitter has met the six requirements the Nigerian government imposed on it
• Bans on the microblogging service has being lifted

200 million individuals in Nigeria will finally be able to access Twitter from 12am tonight, 13th January 2022.

The ban was placed on the social networking service in 2021 after the microblogging giant deleted tweets made by the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari warning the south eastern people of Nigeria.

The main news: Yet, millions of people using the Virtual Private Network in the country – which allow them to bypass the restriction – will be allowed to access the social media platform from Thursday, according to the statement by the director-general of National Information Technology Development Agency Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi.

• Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said in his statement that they have negotiated with Twitter and has met the six requirements the Nigerian government imposed on the Blue Bird App.

What he said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12am tonight, 13th January 2022.”

• “The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim.
• “In the Memo, the Minister updated and requested the President’s approval for the lifting based on the Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement’s recommendation.”

What Buhari said about Twitter Ban: “The issues are being addressed and I have directed that the suspension be lifted, but only if the conditions are met to allow our citizens to continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements.”

What are the conditions met by Twitter?

1. “The operation of Twitter will now be fully regulated,
2. including opening of office and deployment of a Country Representative.
3. We can now hold an officer responsible for any infraction.
4. With payment of taxes
5. To report offensive/inflammatory posts or reports that undermine Nigerian security.
6. To train some Nigerian IT experts and intelligence officers on how to track report offensive posts.