The US administration has warned Nigeria’s government to quickly lift its Twitter ban, claiming that doing so would be equal to suppressing free speech.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Samantha Power, the administrator of the US Agency for International Development, stated as much.
She stated that Nigeria has approximately 40 million Twitter users and that the directive must be revoked immediately.
“Nigeria has roughly 40 million Twitter users, and it is home to Africa’s largest digital hub.”
“This suspension is a state-sanctioned suppression of free expression, and it should be lifted immediately.”
The US mission in Nigeria has also issued an earlier statement via its Facebook page pointing out that the ban was a encroachment to the Peoples right to Freedom.
The statement further stated that, “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.”
