Twitter has finally responded to the ministry of information and culture’s decision to ban the operations of the microblogging platform in Nigeria. Two days after the minister said the mission of Jack Dorsey’s Twitter was suspicious and hours after Nigerians were actually cut off from using the app, having to resort to VPN connections.
In response to the almost Twitter blackout, Twitter’s official public policy team @Policy tweeted, “We are deeply concerned by the blocking of Twitter in Nigeria. Access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential human right in modern society. We will work to restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world. #KeepItOn.”
We are deeply concerned by the blocking of Twitter in Nigeria. Access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential human right in modern society.
— Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) June 5, 2021
We will work to restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world. #KeepitOn
Recall that in our explainer of what the ban could mean and how it would be implemented, we mentioned that there was no communication from the Nigerian government on whether or not a formal complaint had been made to Twitter over the reason for banning its operations in Nigeria. “… the microblogging app is guilty of promoting activities that devalue Nigeria’s corporate existence,” the ministry had stated as its reason.
While Twitter can only (still) be accessed via a VPN at the moment, Twitter has said they will restore access to Nigerians.
