Twitter has been one of the most popular social media networks for over a decade. It has more than 313 million monthly users and has remained a hub for people to instantly connect to the world, follow their favourite celebrities and share their thoughts with their followers. However, Twitter’s operations are recently suspended in Nigeria and the reason behind this drastic step taken by the Nigerian government is creating a lot of buzz all around the world.
What is the Reason Behind Twitter’s Suspension in Nigeria?
The Nigerian government has suspended Twitter’s operations in Nigeria on the 6th of June 2021, alleging the company of “making allowances for activities that could undermine Nigeria’s corporate existence”. The government of Nigeria also said that the suspension was done in order to “maintain peace and order and protect the corporate existence of the nation”. The decision to suspend Twitter’s operations in Nigeria came in the wake of their removal of a tweet from President Buhari.
The Tweet from President Buhari That Sparked Political Uproar
The tweet from President Buhari that sparked the whole controversy was about the separatist agenda of Biafra which was raised in the late 1960s. In his tweet, he warned the separatists in a kind of threat that people in the east of Nigeria will face “consequences” for their actions. Twitter removed the tweet saying that it was violating their terms and conditions and this led to the Nigerian government reacting and suspending Twitter’s operations in the country.
The Nigerian Government’s Dynamics and How They Function
The Nigerian government is a federal republic where the legislative powers are divided between the federal government and the state governments. The executive powers lie with the President and the prime minister. The Nigerian government also functions through a three-tier system. The first tier of the system is the federal government which is responsible for key strategic aspects such as defence, foreign policy and social security. The second tier is the state governments which are responsible for areas such as healthcare and education and the third tier is the local governments which are responsible for local issues such as the maintenance of parks and other amenities.
How Does Twitter’s Suspension Affect Nigerian Citizens?
The effects of Twitter’s suspension in Nigeria affects the everyday life of Nigerian citizens in many ways including but not limited to:
• Loss of Freedom of Expression: By suspending Twitter’s operations, the Nigerian government has taken away the way people can express themselves freely as Twitter is a platform that had more than 21 million active users in Nigeria. The lack of access to this platform has taken away the freedom of expression for Nigerian citizens which can have a long-term negative impact on the country.
• Loss of Economic Benefits: Twitter is an important source of income for many people in Nigeria. The suspension of Twitter has impacted many influencers, businesses and small-scale entrepreneurs who relied on Twitter to promote their content and reach out to customers. This has not only had a negative economic impact on Nigerian citizens but also a negative impact on the country’s economy as a whole.
• Inability to Monitor Political Developments: The lack of access to Twitter has also taken away the ability of Nigerian citizens to monitor political developments in the country. This not only affects the citizens who have knowledge about the latest developments but also those who rely on Twitter for getting updates about important decisions taken by the government.
• Inability to Participate in Discourse: Twitter was a leading platform for people to discuss important topics and share their opinions. The suspension of the platform has taken away the ability of people to learn from debates, engage in discussions and also express their opinions on the events happening in their country.
• Digital Exile: The suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria has also resulted in a kind of digital exile for Nigerian citizens. This creates a sense of isolation among the citizens as they become disconnected from their lives. This further intensifies the growing gap between the digital and the physical world.
• Loss of Access to Others’ Lives: Twitter is a platform that allowed people to keep up with the lives of their loved ones and follow the lives of their inspiring personalities. This suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria has taken away the ability of people to access information and connect with their friends and family, which is a tremendous loss.
Reactions of Companies and Governments to Twitter’s Suspension in Nigeria
The news of Twitter’s suspension in Nigeria has been met with a lot of reactions from different companies and governments all over the world. Some of the reactions to this issue include but are not limited to:
• France’s government opposes Twitter’s suspension in Nigeria: The French government has been vocal about their opposition to Twitter’s suspension in Nigeria. The French foreign ministry has released a statement saying that they are “very worried” about the development and they “call on the Nigerian authorities to reconsider this measure, which appears contrary to the freedom of expression and their own laws”.
• Netflix releases a statement expressing concern: Netflix has also released a statement expressing their concern about Twitter’s suspension in Nigeria. They said that they are “concerned by the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria and its potential impact on Nigerians’ access to free expression”.
• Microsoft CEO expresses concern about Twitter’s suspension: Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, has also expressed his concern about Twitter’s suspension in Nigeria. He has tweeted about the issue saying that “Any effort to shut down 2021 must be stopped. Access to free expression, data privacy and digital safety is not negotiable”.
• Nigerian workers express their support: While the reactions from different companies and governments around the world are pouring in, the Nigerian workers have also come out in support of Twitter’s suspension in Nigeria. They are claiming that it is important to maintain the sovereignty of the country and its national interests.
Twitter’s suspension in Nigeria has resulted in a lot of political and economic controversy. Not only has it resulted in the loss of freedom of expression for Nigerian citizens, but it has also resulted in a significant economic impact, an inability to monitor political developments, and the creation of a digital exile. The decision to suspend Twitter’s operations in Nigeria has been met with a lot of reactions from companies and governments all over the world, including the French government, Netflix and Microsoft’s CEO. Though there are Nigerian citizens who are in favour of Twitter’s suspension in Nigeria, the majority of people are rallying against the decision and fighting for the reinstatement of their right to freedom of expression.
