‘I Will Keep That To Myself’ – Buhari Reacts To Question About When Twitter Suspension Will Be Lifted
President Muhammadu Buhari has on Thursday turned down a question regarding when the suspension of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria would be lifted.
It would be recalled that last Friday, Minister of information and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter’s operations in the country.
The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all Over-The-Top (OTT) media services and social media operations in Nigeria.
Mohammed later expressed that the government was forced to act because of “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”
However, the suspension of Twitter has continued to spark widespread outrage, with many Nigerians condemning the move as well many in other countries.
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Meanwhile, when asked on Arise TV when the Twitter suspension would be lifted, Buhari declined to comment, saying he would “keep” the answer to himself.
“I will keep that to myself,” the president said.
The president’s recent suspension of American social media service, Twitter, has been noted by critics as an attempt to suppress freedom of speech.
Amid this, some Nigerians have been skirting around the Twitter restriction by using Virtual Private Networks to conceal their IP addresses, and disguise their Nigerian location.
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However, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, has threatened them with prosecution, but failed to clearly outline the crime committed.
