The United States of America (USA) has condemned the ban on Twitter by the Nigerian government, describing it as a poor message to citizens and investors.
In a statement on Saturday, the US Mission in Nigeria said the Nigerian constitution provides for freedom of information.
“Nigeria’s Constitution provides for freedom of Information. The Government’s recent #Twitterban undermines Nigerians’ ability to express this fundamental freedom and sends a poor message to its citizens, investors and businesses. Banning social media and curbing every citizen’s ability to seek, receive, and impart information undermines fundamental freedom.
“As President Biden has stated, our need for individual expression, open public conversation, and accountability has never been greater. The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less communication, alongside concerted efforts toward unity, peace, and prosperity.”
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, had announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter on Friday, accusing the microblogging site of working against Nigeria’s interest.
But many Nigerians, who rejected the action of government took to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to circumvent the ban.
However, on Saturday, Abubakar Malami, SAN, ordered the prosecution of those still using Twitter services.
The row with Twitter began after the platform yanked off a tweet of President Muhammadu Buhari on Civil War.
Twitter had flagged the tweet for violating its rules.
The social media networking platform, however, continues to allow terrorist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), being tackled by the Buhari’s tweet, to continue to trend in its handle which, by implication, means the American organisation supports terrorism against Nigeria although its home country claims banning such ‘irresponsible’ company is wrong message to investors.
A source told The DEFENDER that, “Time our Nigerian Government begins to recover our country. Very soon, America’s democracy will be globally shamed because it supports evils particularly insecurity, underdevelopment by inflicted poverty in countries outside the West and Europe.”
