The United State had warned the Federal Government of Nigeria to reverse immediately the suspension placed on microblogging site, Twitter
The United Nations (UN), through its Human Rights office, and the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Samantha Power, condemning the government said that: “This suspension is nothing more than state-sanctioned denial of free speech and should be reversed immediately.”
She disclosed that Twitter had over 40 million users in Nigeria, adding that the directive should be reversed immediately.
Read her: “There are nearly 40 million Twitter users in #Nigeria, and the country is home to Africa’s largest tech hub.
“This suspension is nothing more than state-sanctioned denial of free speech and should be reversed immediately.”
The US mission in Nigeria had also issued an earlier statement via its Facebook page, pointing out that the ban was an encroachment on the people’s right to freedom of expression (speech).
“Nigeria’s constitution provides for freedom of expression. The Government’s recent
#Twitterban undermines Nigerians’ ability to exercise 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 freedoms.
“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.”
