Nigerian authorities say that after several months of negotiations, Twitter has finally acceded to “all conditions set by the federal government.”
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Twitter is operational again in Nigeria. “President Muhammadu Buhari approved the lifting of the suspension (…) from midnight today”, announced the director of the National Agency for the development of information technologies, Wednesday January 12th. “We are happy that Twitter has been re-established for everyone in Nigeria, reacted a spokesperson for the social network, contacted by AFP. Our mission in Nigeria – and around the world – is to serve the public conversation. We are deeply engaged in Nigeria, where Twitter is used by people for business, cultural engagement and civic participation. “
Nigerian authorities claim that after several months of negotiations, Twitter has finally accessed “all conditions set by the federal government”, particularly in terms of taxation and management of content that does not comply with local laws. The social network has “also committed to establishing a legal entity in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2022”, specifies a press release. “Given the influence of Twitter in our democracy, our economy … our priority is to adapt, not to ban Twitter.” The social network did not give details on the conditions that allowed the suspension to be lifted.
Nigeria announced in early June 2021 the suspension of Twitter for “an indefinite period”, after having accused the social network in particular of having a “suspicious mission” against the government and to tolerate on its platform the messages of the leader of a separatist group inciting violence in the south-east of the country. This decision, then the order of the government to the audiovisual media to delete their account in a gesture “patriotic”, had aroused deep consternation in Nigeria, where this social network is an important tool of social protest.