Twitter Ban To Be Lifted ‘Soon’ – Fed. Govt

The Federal Government has again assured Nigerians that it will soon resolve its differences with micro-blogging company, Twitter.

Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed announced this on Wednesday after the week’s virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

On August 11, 2021, the minister, during a post-FEC briefing, had assured Nigerians that the ban on Twitter would be lifted in a matter of days. He said Nigeria and the company had made considerable progress in their discussions then.

Twitter had also said it had reached out to the government, assuring Nigerians that it had not stopped engaging the authorities on how to resolve its ban in the country.

Addressing correspondents yesterday, Mohammed said: “Thank you very much. I think even Twitter itself, two days ago, gave what I will call a progress report on our talks with them. And I think if I want to quote them rightly, it has been productive and quite respectful.

“As to how soon is soon, right? I want to assure you that between the time that Twitter operation has been suspended and when it will be restored is by far, much shorter. That I can assure you that it is by far.”

“In other words, if the operation has been suspended for about 100 days now, I can tell (you) that we’re just actually talking about a few, just a few more days now.

“What we’re trying to do is the changes that have been going on. But we need to dot the Is and cross the Ts. I can assure us that we’re not unmindful of the anxiety of Nigerians, and both parties are working very hard to put a closure on the matter.

“Like Twitter itself said, the changes have been very, very productive on both parties. It has not been advisory at all. And it’s quite respectful.”

Asked to be specific on when the matter would be resolved, he said: “Honestly, we have gone very far. I won’t be specific, but we have gone very far. Honestly, it’s just going to be very, very soon; just take my word for that.”