Twitter: No plan to ban social media, says Fed Govt

There is no plan to ban any social media platform, the Federal Government said yesterday.

It also promised not stifle free speech in any manner whatsoever, even as vowed not allow any platform to plunge the nation into crisis.

The government said it was closely monitoring the evolving developments in Twitter following its change of ownership.

Information, Culture and Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed spoke the mind of the government at a joint stewardship briefing with in the company of Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika in Abuja.

Stating that what happened in the case of Twitter was well-known, the minister said: “Please permit me to quickly address an issue that has elicited a lot of inquiries from the media in recent times.

“Many of your colleagues have called to ask us what will become of our agreement with Twitter in view of the change in its ownership.

“Many have asked for our reaction following reports that there has been a spike in fake news, disinformation and hate speech since the micro-blogging site changed ownership. Many have even asked us if another ban is in the offing.

“Let me say this: We are closely monitoring the evolving developments at Twitter. It has never been our intention to ban any social media platform or stifle free speech. Not at all.

“What happened in the case of Twitter is well known to all. Twitter became a platform of choice for those who want to destabilize Nigeria, using fake news, disinformation and hate speech.

“No nation will allow any social media platform to plunge it into anarchy. Definitely not Nigeria. But we have continued to engage positively with the different social media platforms, including Facebook, Google (owners of YouTube) and Twitter.

“We have no intention of banning any social media platform again. But we will also not sit by and allow any platform whatsoever to throw our nation into crisis.”