Nigerian Government Twitter Ban: Who Is suffering More, The Government Or The Masses?

Twitter Ban

On June 1st, Nigerians woke up to what was a perceived threat from their government on Twitter. The tweet quickly circulated on social media causing an emotional response from Nigerians. In his tweet, the president promised to treat those who were misbehaving “in the language that they understand”. He further made reference to the Nigerian civil war that took place in 1970 and lasted for 30 months.

The president’s tweet was clearly directed to the pro-Biafra activist, accused by the government of vandalizing public properties. A few hours later on June 2nd, Twitter deleted the tweet for violating its policy. Although Twitter’s reaction was applauded by many Nigerians, their actions were not without reprisals.

Reprisals Against Twitter

On Friday, June 4th, the Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter in the country. This makes Nigeria one of five countries in the world to do so. Ironically, the information minister made the announcement on Twitter.

Lai Mohammed also said that Twitter is “bias” towards the Nigerian government. According to him, Twitter was encouraging activities that could undermine the existence of the Nation. This statement is believed to be in reference to the #ENDSARS protest that took place in Nigeria in October 2020. Social media platforms (mainly Twitter) served as a convergence point for the youths. The platform was handy in organizing and sharing information about the protest.

Twitter Ban

Following the event, many top players in the Nigerian government called for the regulation of social media in the country. According to the government, the regulation of social media platforms was to stop the spread of fake news in the country. The minister of information Lai Mohammed said,

“We must regulate social media in a manner that it does not become a purveyor of fake news and hate speech. We will not fold our arms to allow purveyors of fake news and hate speech to use social media to destabilize the country.”

During a weekly briefing with journalists in Abuja, the information minister claimed that Twitter was aiding the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. He said the platform was used to order the killing of security personnel in the country. The minister also revealed that the Federal government requires all Over-the-top (OTT) media and social media operations in Nigeria to be licensed. Consequently, the government is planning to arrest anyone who disobeys the Twitter ban.

Reactions To Twitter Ban In Nigeria

Nigerians are expressing their fears with many saying the government is becoming more repressive. In a statement, Twitter said,

“[We are] deeply concerned by the blocking of Twitter in Nigeria. Access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential human right in modern society. We will work to restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world. #KeepitOn.”

In a joint statement, the international community expressed their disappointment on the decision by the Nigerian government. The international community said Nigeria needs “more communication not less”. Also, the emphasis was on the need for information sharing especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Twitter Ban
A sample of the joint diplomatic statement sent to the Nigerian government in response to its ban on Twitter.

However, former US President Donald Trump praised the Nigerian government. In a statement that circulated the internet on 8th July, the former US president called on more countries to ban both Twitter and Facebook, saying  “Perhaps, I should have done it while I was president”.

Twitter Ban
Congratulatory message from the Former US President Donald Trump to the Nigerian government (Photo credit: opindia)

A Facebook user was quick to point out that the Nigerian government was not banned from using Twitter. This is contrary to Donald Trump suspension from Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Twitter Ban

Who Is Suffering More From Twitter Ban; The Leader Or Lead?

Poll by NOI Polls, an independent research organization shows that about 61% or 120 million Nigerians have access to the Internet. Out of this figure, 20% or 39.6 million Nigerians own a Twitter account. Furthermore, 20% use the platform to advertise their businesses while 18% use it in search of job opportunities. Therefore, with Twitter ban in place, businesses that advertise with the platform will have to look for alternatives. Until then, they are most likely going to lose sales. Global internet monitor NetBlocks reports that Nigeria losses about 2 billion Naira ($6 million) daily.

Looking at the statistics, it is obvious that both the government and the people of Nigeria are suffering the Twitter ban—albeit not equally. However, the government stands to lose the most because, over the years, it has become dependent on digital media for campaigns and publicizing government projects. These platforms serve as a cost-effective and faster means of communication.

A typical example is during the pandemic when the government relied on Twitter, Facebook, and other social platforms in the country to disseminate information. Also, the fact that the government used Twitter to announce that it was banning Twitter is not only laughable but shows that the Nigerian government needs their services.

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What Next?

Many Nigerians now use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to circumvent the ban on Twitter. However, this comes with its own sets of challenges. Firstly, VPN connections are often slow and present security risks that could result in data leaks.

Twitter Ban

Although it is unlikely the ban will be lifted anytime soon, Twitter announced via its public handle that they are ready to talk with the government. Also, the US State Department and 70 human rights and Civil rights groups are pushing hard against the Nigerian government. We are watching to see if the Nigerian government will give in to the demands of its citizen and the international community or stand on its decision to regulate social media and stifle free speech in the process.

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Who is suffering more from the #TwitterBan in Nigeria?

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