Amnesty International has condemned the Nigerian Government for suspending Twitter indefinitely.
In a tweet, Amnesty International noted that “Amnesty International condemns the Nigerian government’s suspension of Twitter @Twitter in #Nigeria🇳🇬 — a social media widely used by Nigerians to exercise their human rights, including their rights to freedom of expression and access to information. #TwitterBan”
It said “We call on the #Nigerian authorities to immediately reverse the unlawful suspension and other plans to gag the media, repress the civic space, and undermine Nigerians’ human rights. #TwitterBan”
“This action is inconsistent and incompatible with Nigeria’s international obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. #TwitterBan #Nigeria”, Amnesty International added.
The Government of Nigeria earlier this evening indefinitely suspended Twitter operations.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
announced the suspension, saying due to “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are
capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”
The statement issued in Abuja on Friday, “The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the
National Broadcasting l Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.”
On Wednesday, twitter deleted a post by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari invoking the country’s civil war.
In a series of tweets sent out earlier that day, Buhari, who served in the army during the 1967-1970 civil war, said that regional secessionists did not remember the tragedy of the war, using language that Twitter flagged as “abusive.”
Below is the full press release shared by the FG on twitter announcing the suspension of twitter
FG Suspends @Twitter Operations in Nigeria
The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting l Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.
Segun Adeyemi @SegunAde88
Special Assistant To The President (Media)
Office of the Minister of Information and Culture
Abuja
4 June 2021
By Melvin Tarlue