Muhammadu Buhari, the president of Nigeria, has directed that the ban on Twitter operations in the country be lifted, but only if the California-based microblogging giant meets certain conditions set by the government.
In a broadcast to mark the 61st anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, President Buhari said his government took the decision to allow Nigerian citizens to continue to use the platform for business and positive engagement after Twitter reached out to the government to resolve the impasse.
Nigerian and Twitter representatives have met to address points of friction relating to national security and cohesion, Twitter’s registration, physical presence and representation in Nigeria, as well as fair taxation, dispute resolution and local content, the president announced.
“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,” Buhari said.
He explained that the government suspended Twitter operations in Nigeria on 5 June 2021 to allow the government to put measures in place to address identified negative trends allegedly exhibited by the social media platform.
The Nigerian leader said the government has developed certain policies to enable citizens to take advantage of the prospects and avoid the perils of digital technology.
“As a country, we are 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,” he said.
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