President Muhammadu Buhari says he has directed that the ban on Twitter by the Nigerian Government be lifted once the social media platform resolves its differences with the government.
“Following the extensive engagements, 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 continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements,” the President said on Friday in his nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 61st Independence Day.
The Nigerian government suspended Twitter’s operations in the country on June 4 after the social media network removed a post by President Buhari in which he threatened to punish secessionists causing violence in the South-east region.
The government also blamed the social media platform for causing division among citizens in the country.
The suspension was condemned as an affront to freedom of expression with some civil society groups sueing the government over it.
Many Nigerian users bypassed the ban and continued to post on Twitter using the virtual private network (VPN).
Abubakar Malami, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had initially ordered the prosecution of those breaching the Twitter ban. But a court of Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), sitting in Abuja, ruled on June 22 that the Nigerian authorities could not prosecute people for using the service while it considered a suit seeking to overturn the ban.
In what appeared like seeking Nigerians’ good side on Independence Day, the President said his administration was committed “to ensuring that digital companies use their platform to enhance the lives of our citizens, respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, cultural values and promote online safety.”
One of the conditions he listed for lifting the ban include: Twitter to open an office in the country; to pay attention to national security and cohesion; to resolve dispute with local content.
The development comes as young Nigerians shunned the Independence celebration as they mourned the victims of Lekkitollgate shooting during the nationwide protest—EndSARS—that demanded end to police brutality and police reform in October 2020.
