The Federal Government has indefinitely suspended the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.
Minister of information and culture 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 Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all over-the-top (OTT) platforms and social media operations in Nigeria.
The move is seen as reprisal following the removal of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet in reference to the Nigerian civil war of 1967-70 on Tuesday.
Twitter said the president’s comments violated its policies.
The Federal Government had been considering regulating social media following the destruction that ensued in the wake of the #EndSARS protest which disrupted economic activities in Lagos, Abuja and a few other locations.
