The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has debunked insinuations from several quarters that the Federal Government is stifling the press stressing that Twitter is just one of the many social media used by Nigerians.
He however maintained that the Federal Government’s decision to suspend microblogging and social network platform, Twitter, in Nigeria was a tough one.
Mohammed, who spoke at the meeting of Information Managers of APC Government in Lagos on Thursday, said the decision to suspend Twitter was tough because most Nigerian youths use the platform for business.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday appointed a Federal Government team to engage with Twitter over the suspension of its operations in the country.
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Mohammed said, “It [Twitter ban in Nigeria] was a tough decision to take, considering that many of our youths also use the platform for business. Such is the challenge posed by social media.
“At its request, the government has agreed to engage with Twitter and, hopefully, we can both chart a path forward without compromising our national interest. While many have accused us of stifling the press with the ban, we say Twitter is just one of many social media platforms being used by Nigerians.
“WhatsApp, which is most used by Nigerians, is there. And there is Facebook, Instagram, Google hangout, etc.”
