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Buhari's Minister Gives Update On When Twitter Ban Will Be Lifted

September 15, 2021

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday said talks between the management of Twitter and the Nigerian government are at an advanced stage and that the ban on the microblogging site will be lifted soon.

The Nigerian government has said it will soon resolve the issue that led to the suspension of Twitter operations in the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday said talks between the management of Twitter and the Nigerian government are at an advanced stage and that the ban on the microblogging site will be lifted soon. 

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President Muhammadu Buhari had on June 4, announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter's operation across the country following the deletion of Buhari's tweets. 

Buhari had threatened to treat members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the “language they understand”.

The Nigerian government has however blamed the suspension on “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.

The government also in August, said it had made “tremendous progress” in resolving the impasse following a series of meetings and that an “an amicable solution is very much in sight”.

"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," Mohammed said on Tuesday. 

He continued, “And 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, much shorter.

“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.

“I can assure us that we’re mindful of the anxiety of Nigerians and both parties are working very hard to put a closure on the matter.

“And like Twitter itself said, the changes have been very, very productive on both parties. Honestly, we have gone very far. I won’t be specific but we have gone very far, and honestly, it’s just going to be very, very soon, just take my word for that.”

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