By Abuja: “Our engagement with Twitter opens a new chapter in global digital diplomacy”
The Nigerian government has unbanned Twitter’s operations in the country, almost seven months after it unplug the micro-blogging site after it accused it of promoting tweets undermining the country’s corporate existence.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12am tonight, 13th January 2022,” said Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, while officially announcing the lifting of the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja.
“The approval was given following a memo written to the President by the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim,” added Abdullahi who is involved in the Nigerian government’s negotiation with Twitter as the Chairman, Technical Committee, Nigeria-Twitter Engagement.
Abuja says the re-established relationship is a new chapter international corporate diplomacy.
“Our engagement with Twitter opens a new chapter in global digital diplomacy and sets a new operational template for Twitter to come back stronger for the benefit of Nigerians.”
Twitter was banned in June 2021 and there have been discussions with Abuja to have its operations back in Nigeria.
Part of the conditions set by Abuja include:
- Open an office in Nigeria
- Establishment of a legal entity in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2022 with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)/get National Broadcasting Commission’s licence
- Appointment of a designated country representative to interface with Nigerian authorities.
- Payment of fair taxes
- Sensitive to national security and cohesion. It must not undermine the nation’s security
- Train Nigerian IT personnel and strategic intelligence officers on how to report Twitter abuse /infractions noticed by the government.
Twitter has accepted all the conditions according to the Nigerian government and has finalized plans to open its Nigerian office first quarter of 2022.
Abdullahi confirmed this in his statement this:
“Twitter has agreed to meet all the conditions set by the FGN. Consequently, the FGN and Twitter have decided on an execution timeline, which has started this week. Our engagement with Twitter opens a new chapter in global digital diplomacy and sets a new operational template for Twitter to come back stronger for the benefit of Nigerians.
“Twitter has agreed to comply with applicable tax obligations on its operations under Nigerian law and has agreed to enrol Nigeria in its Partner Support and Law Enforcement Portals.”
RELATED Ready. Set. Tweet. Twitter Meets Conditions To Restart Nigeria’s Operations
According to Statista, Nigeria had approximately 33 million active social media users as at March 2021. WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, is the most popular platform used in the country. Twitter is the 3rd most popular after Instagram.
