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Twitter Ban; Lai Mohammed Defends Action.
The minister of information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has defended the federal governments decision to suspend twitter operations in Nigeria.
Speaking on Radio program -‘Politics Nationwide’, the Minister insisted that the action was taken in the best interest of the country.
He said “When I released the statement on Friday the 4th of June, I was very unambiguous, I said the operation of Twitter is suspended indefinitely because the platform has consistently and persistently offered itself to promote activities which are inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria”.
The outspoken minister made it clear that other social media platforms will need to register as a Nigerian company. In his words “I went further to say that Henceforth all OTT and other social media platforms in the country will have to register as Nigerian companies and then be licensed by the Broadcasting Commission. This is a global practice.”
Alhaji Lai Mohammed criticized Twitter for allowing a sepratist leader to use their platform to perpetrate evil. “Over time, Twitter has became the platform of choice for a particular separatist leader to direct its members to kill Nigerian soldiers, kill Nigerian policemen, burn down Electoral Commission offices and destroy all the symbols of a country’s sovereignty.
Every attempt to persuade Twitter to deny this platform to this separatist leader proved abortive. And for any country worth its salt, security and national sovereignty will come before any other consideration.” He said.
See also Twitter Ban; Here are five Good alternatives to Twitter in Nigeria.
We believe it’s because a country exists, that’s why you can exercise your freedoms. Whether freedom of speech or freedom of expression. It’s because a country exists and is in peace and is stable that you can make money.
The minister also expects all social media platforms who make money from Nigeria to pay taxes. “On the other hand, I went further to say that henceforth all OTT and other social media platforms must register in Nigeria because they make a lot of money from our country, they pay no taxes and we believe it is only right. In other parts of the world, they register they pay taxes”, He said.
I do not see how we have offended anybody. Any patriot should commend the moves of the FG in respect of these measures.
Defending the action, the minister insisted that the move was not done to stiffen press Freedom. He said “I know people have come to say this move is to stiffen press freedom. I say No, there are very few countries in the world today that have a freer media than we have in Nigeria. And that’s a fact.
About a month ago, I revealed over 476 online publications devoted to attacking and badmouthing this administration, we have not clamped down on any of them.
For Nigerian who want to express themselves, they have Facebook, WhatsApp, google hangouts, they have other applications.
Really, this is about National Security and Sovereignty.”
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