US President, Joe Biden
The United States government has called on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to stop repressing the rights of Nigerians by immediately reversing ban on Twitter.
The US government said this through Samantha Power, an administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.
In a statement on Wednesday, Power revealed that Twitter has over 40 million users in Nigeria adding, that the ban is a ploy by the government to sanction free speech.
“There are nearly 40 M Twitter users in #Nigeria, and the country is home to Africa’s largest tech hub.”
“This suspension is nothing more than state-sanctioned denial of free speech and should be reversed immediately.”
The US mission in Nigeria had also accused the federal government of denying Nigerians right to Freedom.
“Nigeria’s constitution provides for freedom of expression. The Government’s recent #Twitterban undermines Nigerians’ ability to exercise this fundamental freedom and sends a poor message to its citizens, investors and businesses.”
“Banning social media and curbing every citizen’s ability to seek, receive, and impart information undermines fundamental freedoms. As President Biden has stated, our need for individual expression, open public conversation, and accountability has never been greater. The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less communication, alongside concerted efforts toward unity, peace, and prosperity.”
