Respite as FG plans to lift ban on Twitter

…Twitter agrees to set up office in 2022

… Nigeria lost N148.04 bn in 68days

By Idris Bakare, Matthew Denis & Ogaga Ariemu

Stakeholders have expressed respite as the Federal Government on Wednesday said that the over two months’ ban on the social networking site, Twitter, in Nigeria will be lifted in days.

The Federal Government had suspended Twitter on June 5 after it removed a post from President  Muhammadu Buhari that threatened to deal with regional secessionists “in the language they understand.”

In the post, Buhari referred to the 1967-70 civil war, during which he served in the Nigerian army as it battled southeastern secessionists. Talking about modern-day secessionists in the same region, he said he would “treat them in the language they understand.”

Within days and prompted by the government, telecoms companies blocked access to users in Nigeria on Saturday, a day it announced its plan to ban access to Twitter in the country.

The Federal Government announced the “indefinite” suspension of Twitter over “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

On Saturday morning, June 5, the network access to the Twitter platform and backend servers were blocked by MTN, Globacom, Airtel, 9mobile, and other networks — the development made Nigerians move to alternative means of accessing the micro-blogging site.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed while fielding questions from the press at the State House after Wednesday’s FEC meeting updated Nigerians on the issue saying that progress has been made in resolving the stalemate following series of meetings.

“The ban on Twitter will soon be lifted as we are getting close to reaching full agreement,” he said.

He added that, “We have agreed on some areas. Hopefully in the next few days or weeks we will conclude.”

The Minister also disclosed that on the issue of a Nigeria-based office, even though Twitter has agreed to the condition, it is, however, maintaining that the earliest it can establish that is 2022.

He expressed confidence that everything will be ironed out with Twitter within “matter of days or weeks” noting the anxiety that has been shown by Nigerians.

He said FG’s committee negotiating with Twitter will meet on the agreement soon to make recommendations.

The ban on Twitter had drawn condemnation from the social media platform itself, from Nigerian civil society groups including some that sued the government over it, from numerous Nigerian users and from the U.S. government.

Nigeria’s Attorney General initially said those who breached the Twitter ban should be prosecuted, but that was not enforced.

A West African court 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 practice, many Nigerian users continued to post on Twitter, but government ministries and other public bodies had stopped using it.

The ban was imposed after Twitter removed on June 2 a post by Buhari which it said violated its “abusive behaviour” policy.

Relations between the Federal Government and Twitter had been tense even before the removal of the president’s Tweet.

In April, Mohammed reacted angrily when Twitter chose Ghana for its first office on the continent. The Minister said the company had been influenced by media misrepresentations of Nigeria.

Another disagreement arose from a period of intense popular protests last year against police brutality. Demonstrators had used social media to organise, raise money and share evidence of police harassment.

However, with rising levels of economic hardship, widespread insecurity, and the rising expense of internet restriction, many believe the Nigerian government should focus on key macroeconomic issues, particularly poverty and insecurity.

As the restriction persists, the cost rises, and the impact spreads from large corporations to small businesses.

Nigerian NewsDirect findings on NetBlocks revealed that Cost of Shutdown Tool revealed that Nigeria may have lost N148.04billion or $37366.99million in 68 days.

Speaking with Nigerian NewsDirect, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo said there is need for Nigerians to be responsible on social media.

In his word, “We are pleased about the development and we hope that all stakeholders would have taken the necessary lessons from the unfortunate development leading the ban and its impact on all users.

“We need to begin to readdress our sense of national orientation as a people, we cannot use any platform to act against our own national interest.

“There is a need for our people to behave responsibly on all social media platforms, because  we cannot hold a digital platform owner responsible for our irresponsible behaviour on their platform.

“We look forward to the lifting of the ban as this is a very positive development” he said.

Also, speaking with Nigerian NewsDirect, the former President Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Olusola Teniola said decision to lift Twitter ban will be tremendous relief on business.

According to him, “When the FG decides to lift the ban on Twitter it will be of tremendous respite to all those businesses that have been negatively impacted including parts of Government that relies on the platform for dissemination of information like COVID-19 and other MDAs that utilised the platform to engage with citizens.

“It also provides FG with an opportunity to work with Twitter in improving their algorithms that reflects our unique culture.”

The former Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Mr. Muda Yusuf in a statement obtained by Nigerian NewsDirect had said that the Twitter saga raises a major issue of proportionality on both sides of the divide, stressing on the need for the Federal Government and stakeholders concern over its collateral damage to businesses that could result from the Twitter ban.

According to him, “Many businesses, especially SMEs, leverage this digital platform for marketing and other promotional activities.

“The implications is that this group of businesses are being deprived the use of the platform. Some even have ongoing contractual obligations in this regard.

“The outright ban was disproportionate,  having regards to the wider implications for numerous small businesses that derive significant value from the use of this digital platform. My view is that other channels of seeking redress should have been explored.”

He added that “But there is a flip side.  The reality is that the platform could also be used as a tool for the dissemination of information that could be harmful to the society.

“This imposes a major responsibility on Twitter to ensure an effective self regulation. The saga also underscores the need by Twitter to have a deeper contextual understanding and insight of tweets before drawing conclusions. Such contextualisation would enrich its judgement and enhance its credibility.”