Nigeria Abroad
The Federal Government has summoned the envoys of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union in Nigeria over their recent comments on the country’s current impasse with microblogging site Twitter.
Recall that after President Muhammadu Buhari’s “genocidal tweet” about was massively reported to Twitter, the company deleted the tweet and, in reaction, the Nigerian government banned the platform from Nigeria.
This summon was contained in an invitation to pressmen issued on Monday morning by Kimiebi Ebienfa of the Crisis Monitoring and Public Communications Division of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“I am directed to inform you that following the recent ban on Twitter by the Federal Government and press statements issued by some Heads of Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Nigeria on the subject matter, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency, Geoffrey Onyeama has invited the affected Ambassadors to a meeting today at 12 noon.
“The venue is Minister’s Conference Room, 8th Floor. You are hereby invited to cover the meeting. Thanks for your usual cooperation,” the invite read.
The diplomatic statement was titled: Joint Statement From The Diplomatic Missions Of Canada, The European Union (Delegation To Nigeria), The Republic Of Ireland, The United Kingdom And The United States Of America.
It read: “The diplomatic missions of Canada, the European Union (Delegation to Nigeria), the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America convey our disappointment over the Government of Nigeria’s announcement suspending #Twitter and proposing registration requirements for other social media.
“We strongly support the fundamental human right of free expression and access to information as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria as around the world and these rights apply online as well as offline.
“Banning systems of expression is not the answer. These measures inhibit access to information and commerce at precisely the moment when Nigeria needs to foster inclusive dialogue and expression of opinions, as well as share vital information in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less, communication to accompany the concerted efforts of Nigeria’s citizens in fulsome dialogue toward unity, peace and prosperity. As Nigeria’s partners, we stand ready to assist in achieving these goals.”
Details of the meeting will be conveyed to you shortly.
Meanwhile, in line with the #TwitterBan, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has directed all broadcast stations in the country still using Twitter to stop forthwith.
The Commission directed the broadcast stations to “de-install Twitter handles and desist from using Twitter as a source (UGC) of information gathering for News and programmes presentation especially phone-in.”
NBC’s Acting Director-General Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, issued the directive Monday in a statement titled: Suspend Twitter handles.
“Note that it will be unpatriotic for any broadcaster in Nigeria to continue to patronise the suspended Twitter as a source of its information therefore strict compliance is enjoined,” the statement read in part, saying activities on the platform “are capable of undermining the corporate existence of Nigeria.”
This story first appeared in Nigeria Abroad
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