The federal government of Nigeria says it is closely monitoring developments and happenings on the popular micro-blogging platform, Twitter following its takeover by Elon Musk.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed made this known on Thursday in Abuja during the ministerial press briefing.
He pointed out that the government is not considering banning Twitter again in Nigeria but won’t allow the platform or any social media platform to be used to undermine the integrity of the country or cause problems.
Mohammed added that the resolve of the government to prevent any social media platform from being used to spread fake news, disinformation, and hate speech in Nigeria remains in place.
The Minister said the government will however continue to engage with the different social media platforms, including Facebook, Google (owners of YouTube), and Twitter.
He said: “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.”
[NaijaNews]
