Nigerians have reacted with fury after the federal government on Friday announced a ban on Twitter, the microblogging platform millions of citizens have used for years to express themselves and hold the authorities to account.
In a shocking move, Information Minister Lai Mohammed, who had earlier condemned the platform, announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter, two days after it deleted President Muhammadu Buhari’s post threatening violence.
The suspension is a culmination of a three-day drama which began when Twitter deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari for violating its rules.
In the post, Buhari referenced his role in 1967 Nigerian civil war where over a million people were gruesomely killed, threatening to treat Nigerians “misbehaving” in “the language they understand”.
He said;
Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigeria Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.
Buhari’s statement drew widespread condemnation, and prompted a deletion from Twitter after several complaints were filed by citizens, saying the post breached its rules.
Read Also: Twitter Deletes Buhari’s ‘Civil War’ Tweet Threatening Arsonists In South East
After the news broke, several Nigerians including some celebrities took to social media and other platforms to blast the government over its decision.
The lawyer and activist, Femi Falana, in an interview with PremiumTimes said the suspension was a “provocative infringement” of Nigerians’ right to freedom of expression including freedom to access information in the country.
He said;
The NBC has been authorised to impose harsh fines on local media houses that embarrass the federal government as a prelude for possible ban.
The suspension of Twitter may soon be extended to Facebook, Instagram and then BBC, VOA, Aljazeera, SABC and other international media platforms accused of publishing seditious or defamatory information against the government and its officials.
Some Nigerians believed the government lacks the technological capacity to implement the ban.
See some reactions below;
They can’t stop kidnapping, armed robbery and terrorism… the country is as unsafe as ever… yet they can seize passports and block bank accounts of peaceful protesters. They ban cryptocurrency. They ban Twitter. Completely out of touch with the plight of young people.
— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) June 4, 2021
Nigerian Government bans Twitter, and announce the ban ON Twitter. You can’t make this up. Clueless.
— Banky Wellington (@BankyW) June 4, 2021
Must we kikiki about everything??
This Twitter in Nigeria ban is not funny! Federal Government does not rate us! Because what is THIS!!!— TACHA🔱🇳🇬🇬🇭 (@Symply_Tacha) June 4, 2021
You announce the suspension of twitter….ON TWITTER!🤦♀️
You can’t make this stuff up— Adesua Etomi-Wellington (@AdesuaEtomiW) June 4, 2021
Back to Facebook.
— AG BABY (@adekunleGOLD) June 4, 2021
The suspension of the activities of @Twitter in Nigeria by the @MBuhari administration should be ignored by @Jack. The Buhari government has no means to effect the suspension, and even members of the administration are still on Twitter#TwitterSuspendBuharisAccount#TableShaker
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) June 4, 2021
Lmaoo this administration is so fucking dumb. You want to ban Twitter in Nigeria but some of the cabinet still get their twitter accounts active 🤣🤣🤣#TwitterSuspendBuharisAccount
— Peng Man ⚡️ (@pengmanmodel) June 4, 2021
Jack go soon take action and dis street won’t be able to contain the happiness, if this actually happens today#TwitterSuspendBuharisAccount
— Dapsy (@symplyDAPO) June 4, 2021
How can a bag of Rice be more than Minimum wage??? and to suspend Nigerians from using Twitter in Nigeria is their top most priority. #TwitterSuspendBuharisAccount VPNs pic.twitter.com/kg1XUkpNOr
— shawntomi 🤎 (@_iamtomi) June 4, 2021
At this point I’m safe to say this is the worse government in the history of Nigeria🤦🏾♂️how did we even reach here. Suspending Twitter in Nigeria😂🤡 #TwitterSuspendBuharisAccount pic.twitter.com/K3N73lk1RZ
— Dunsyn Akinbowale (@dunsyn__) June 4, 2021
Federal government ban Twitter and still the President’s account is still functional, our government is failing even in their failures. #TwitterSuspendBuharisAccount pic.twitter.com/nteDMtz3dJ
— American Boy Of LAGOS💦 (@mysticability) June 4, 2021
If you live in Nigeria, it makes sense to figure out a way to hide the Twitter app icon on your phone.
If @Twitter can give a camouflage app icon for this, that would be fab.— moe (@Mochievous) June 4, 2021
You all can now see why @twitter Africa is safely in Ghana?
Imagine this shitshow with an office in Nigeria and with Nigerian employees localized?
— Osaretin Victor Asemota (@asemota) June 4, 2021
FG Bans Twitter in Nigeria, some of us non influencers come online to ease stress after work and have fun.
Twitter has provided jobs for some people more than Buhari did in 6years. VPN is the solution
— Esv. Adeshewa (@SewaHerself) June 4, 2021
Suspending @Twitter can’t hurt @jack but will surely hurt millions of Nigerians, (mostly the YOUTH) that are on Twitter. Nigerian public & private sectors will also be hurt.
So, Nigeria did not suspend Twitter. Nigeria suspended itself on Twitter & announced it on Twitter. #Zoo pic.twitter.com/hvyiIqbzB0
— Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (@MaziNnamdiKanu) June 4, 2021
Nigerias president, @MBuhari, has banned Twitter ‘indefinitely’ after he got caught violating their abusive behavior policy. Disappointed, to say the least. https://t.co/gDMSjxd5bv
— Truls Aandal (@ttrulss) June 4, 2021
Twitter deleted Buhari’s civil war treatment tweet. Facebook deleted Buhari’s civil war treatment post too.
Na home and away disgrace dem give personal Lord and saviour of BMC and Buharists.— Uncle Ajala (@UNCLE_AJALA) June 4, 2021
The Nigerian police as we know will begin to intimidate and harass people for having the Twitter app on their phone. So no, it is not funny. Take precautions
— moe (@Mochievous) June 4, 2021
The essence of Nigeria govt suspending twitter in Nigeria was to carry out their jihadist agenda. Twitter is the only means ordinary masses air their voices & raise alarm on the suppression & killings of the masses by Nigeria security forces.
EndSARS
Get VPNs
Twitter in Nigeria— Emeka Gift (@EmekaGift) June 4, 2021
I’ll never take this twitter suspension issue serious, Remember we are talking about Nigeria.
— ™ (@banney___) June 4, 2021
Make dem even ban twitter sef. At least that Aproko Doc and Dr. Funmi no go dey tell me when to eat and when not to. pic.twitter.com/akWdhhmLJ5
— OLÓYÈ ◽ (@Oloyedey4u) June 4, 2021
But, why can’t they announce this on NTA or The Nation? Coward government, they had to announce the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria even on Twitter. Hypo what?
— Simply Saka (@Adesaka_) June 4, 2021
Of all things happening in Naija;
-Insecurity
-Declining economy
-Unemployment
-Poverty
-Lack of social amenities etc.So, Twitter is what is giving Buhari headache? 😂 There was a country!
— Moyò of Lagos (@Moyo_VIP) June 4, 2021
