Nigeria Lifts 7-Month Ban On Twitter

Two days after the tweet was dismissed, Nigerian authorities announced a permanent ban, saying Twitter was being used "for activities that could undermine the existence of Nigerian companies." The head of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, this week said the ban would be lifted on Thursday morning following an agreement to "improve" the government's relationship with Twitter. Kashif Inuwa Abdullahi, chief executive of the National Information Technology Development Agency in Nigeria, said in a statement that Buhari had "rescinded the decision to suspend Twitter operations in Nigeria."

Nigerian officials say Twitter accepts job applications in the country. Twitter has agreed to comply with Nigerian tax obligations and cultural sensitivity and will open an office in the country. Twitter will establish an office in the country, pay taxes there, appoint a representative, and "operate in accordance with Nigerian law, national culture, and history," a government official said.

Twitter has agreed to officially register in Nigeria, use local office, appoint state representatives to contact authorities, pay taxes, and register officials in its affiliate support portfolios, giving authorities access to monitor and manage unauthorized content, the statement said. Nigeria suspended Twitter in June after the company withdrew Buhari's comments, sparking an international outcry over freedom of speech. Since then, the government and Twitter have been negotiating to reinstate the program under a number of conditions, including the registration of Twitter operations in Nigeria.

A spokesman for the National Information Technology Development Agency in Nigeria said Twitter went into operation at 12:00 on Thursday after Twitter agreed to certain conditions, including setting up an office or legal entity in the country and meeting applicable tax obligations. The Nigerian government has lifted the ban on Twitter since midnight on Wednesday night. In June 2021, the country closed the social media platform after deleting a tweet from Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari quoting an offensive behavior policy.

The Twitter ban was heavily criticized by millions of users and advocacy groups. However, the decision has been widely criticized by the media and by the US government led by President Joe Biden. Introducing the law, Nigerian Information Minister Lai Mohammed later said the government had taken the initiative because the forum was being used for "activities that could undermine Nigerian business," reports Sputnik.

But as Twitter has become an important place for Nigerians to organize social movements like #Get OurGirls Back, 2015 elections, and EndSARS, individuals, civil society organizations, and businesses in many cases have stayed online using VPNs to overcome the ban. . . During the ban, many users avoided government restrictions by using VPNs to manage Twitter locally. Officials often criticize the company for not doing enough to criticize derogatory statements and hate speech and accuse it of undermining the country as protesting organizations use social media as a tool for planning.

Nigerian Twitter users and freedom of speech representatives have welcomed the lifting of the ban, but are also wondering how the company could change the rules to restore market access to more Africans. Nigeria has lifted its ban on Twitter, restoring access to millions of users, seven months after Twitter blocked a social media site following its decision to oust the president. The Nigerian government issued a ban on Twitter on Wednesday, seven months after the closure of President Muhammadu Buhari's Twitter account.

Abuja, Nigeria. Seven months after more than 200 million people in West Africa were banned from social media, the Nigerian government lifted the ban. ABUJA, Nigeria - (AP) - After seven months after more than 200 million people in West Africa were banned from social media, the Nigerian government has lifted a ban on Twitter. Abuja, January 12 (Reuters) - Nigeria will lift its ban on Twitter (TWTR.N) from midnight after a social media platform agreed to open a local office and other agreements with West African officials, a government official said on Wednesday.

We are happy that Twitter has been restored to all Nigerians. "We are pleased that Twitter has been restored to everyone in Nigeria. This content should not be posted, distributed, reposted, or distributed without permission.

The government said the agreed terms "open a new chapter in digital dialogue around the world" and "establish a new Twitter operating model to strengthen for the benefit of the Nigerian people." The company has also agreed to register in Nigeria "Partner Support for Law and Law," which is a way for Twitter staff and government officials to handle content that violates the forum's community guidelines. The portals will also build a channel for Nigerian lawmakers to file a formal complaint if Twitter violates Nigerian law.

He added that the move represents "Twitter's first step in demonstrating its long-term commitment to Nigeria." Twitter has reportedly met key requirements, including opening an office in Nigeria, appointing a head of state, and meeting its tax obligations. But he said the ban was a matter of great concern and asked for free and open internet access as a basic right.

Twitter withdrew its comments when Buhari spoke of the Nigerian civil war when warning those responsible for the latest unrest in the southeastern part of the country. In October 2020, independent journalist Luna Safwan was directed by Hezbollah in an online harassment campaign after his tweet criticizing the group was leaked to an Israeli news channel and accused of collaborating with Israel.