The International Press Institute (IPI) has expressed concern over the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria by the federal government.
In a statement jointly signed by its chairman Kabiru Yusuf and secretary Raheem Adedoyin in Nigeria Saturday, they said the ban is detrimental to the free press in Nigeria which uses twitter as a major platform.
“IPI notes the concern of the government on the use of twitter and other social media platforms to promote hate speech and disinformation. We urge twitter and other social media outfits to pay greater attention to the content they promote on their platforms which violate their own rules.
“IPI implores the government to reverse the suspension of twitter operations in Nigeria and engage in meaningful dialogue with the social media outfit on issues of concern to the government,” the statement said.
Federal government had on Friday suspended the operations of the microblogging and social networking service in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who announced the suspension cited the persistent use of the platform for activities capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
