The Federal Government has again promised to soon lift the ban on Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government had on June 4, announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter services in the country hours after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet was deleted for violating the company’s abusive behaviour policy.
In a statement released by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, the government attributed the suspension to “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.
Following the ban, the government received criticism from various quarters including Amnesty International, British and Canadian missions, and the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria.
Briefing State House reporters on Wednesday after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Mohammed stated that it is very close to restoring Twitter services in the country.
The minister stated that the government is working hard to restore Twitter’s operations in Nigeria, hundred days after the platform was banned.
Mohammed added that the government is mindful of the anxiety of Nigerians and both parties are working very hard to put a closure on the matter.
He said: “I think even Twitter itself two days ago gave what I will call a progress report on our talks with them. And I think if I want to quote them rightly, it has been productive and quite respectful.
“And like Twitter itself said, the changes have been very, very productive on both parties.
“And as to how soon is soon, right? I want to assure you that the time that Twitter operation has been suspended, and when it will be restored is by far, much, much shorter.
“Honestly, we have gone very far. I won’t be specific but we have gone very far, and honestly, it’s just going to be very, very soon, just take my word for that.
“In other words, if the operation has been suspended for about 100 days now, I can tell you that we’re just actually talking about a few, just a few more days now.
“I can assure us that we’re mindful of the anxiety of Nigerians and both parties are working very hard to put a closure on the matter.”
