The House of Reps on Thursday, July 1, appealed for patience from Nigerians as discussions continue between Twitter and the Federal Government over the ban on its services.
4wardwego blog had reported that in early June that the government ordered telecommunications networks to block the use of Twitter; after the social media company deleted a controversial tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari for violating its terms of use.
Buhari had threatened pro-Biafra groups – accused of attacks on police and civil authorities; by referencing his role as a brigade major during the bitter 1967 Biafra war.
Facebook also deleted the post on its site, yet has so far avoided direct criticism from the government.
Only a fraction of an estimated 40 million Twitter users in the country has been able to bypass the ban; via virtual private networks whose use has rapidly increased.
The removal of Buhari’s tweet fuelled a wave of angry recriminations by government officials; some of whom have since joined the Indian social media app, Koo.
Nonetheless, the House of Reps Committee on Information and Telecommunications revealed that “time be allowed for the FG and Twitter to enter into the dialogue process that is already ongoing so as to create room for amicable settlement on the matter.”
The report by the Chairman of the Reps Committee, Odebunmi Olusegun Dokun further implored Government Institutions; such as the National Broadcasting Commission “to be alive to their mandate by doing the needful to avoid future occurrence of this nature.”
Regarding the allegations of a gag on freedom of speech, the report clarified that “freedom of expression is not absolute anywhere in the world. This is because freedom of expression sometimes presents contending interests. Therefore, security must be guaranteed at all times as much as the right to free speech.”
The Reps also advised the FG to ensure transparency by communicating decisions to Nigerians before promulgation.
