The Microblogging and Social Media Platform, Twitter has reacted to its suspension by the Nigerian Government, promised to restore access for Nigerians to communicate and connect with the rest of the world.
Twitter, in a statement released via its Public Policy handle, showed its concern by the blocking of its platform in Nigeria, noting that access to the free and open internet is an essential human right in modern society.
Recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria laid a ban on Twitter operation in the country, following the social media company’s removal of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet.
Buhari, in his reaction to the increasing insecurity in the southeast, made reference to the 1967 civil war and also threatened to deal with secessionist agitators ‘in the language they understand.’
This, however, drawn the ire of Nigerians and they filed complaints about the tweet, Twitter, thus, took down Buhari’s tweet, saying it violated its rules.
Subsequently, FG suspended the social media giant on Friday, citing the uses of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s existence as the reason for its operations’ suspension in Nigeria – A statement released by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Reacting to the suspension, Twitter said it deeply concerned by the ban and claimed access to the free and open internet is an essential human right in modern society. They also promised Nigerians to restore access to its platform for them to communicate and connect with the rest of the world.
In its statement:
“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.”
Following the suspension, the indefatigable Nigerians have sourced for an alternative to bypass the ban and enjoy their most preferred social media platforms by using Virtual Private Network, VPN, to hide their IP addresses and disguise their Nigerian location.
Read Also: You Are Not Worthy To Be Called The Nigerian President – HURIWA Taunted Buhari.
This new development, thus, projected VPN to the number one trend on Twitter Nigeria as Nigerians started tweeting about how to use VPNs to bypass an actual ban on the platform.
