The Minister of Information and Culture Alh. Lai Mohammed has insisted that the government decision to suspend the activities of twitter in Nigeria is in best interest of the country.
Alh. Lai Mohammed while speaking at a public hearing on the suspension of twitter said the activities of the online platform contravenes provisions of the Nigerian Constitutions and international laws.
The Minister acknowledged the rights of Nigerians to free speech as contained in sections 37-41 of the constitution, but not detrimental to National Security, peace and unity.
He said “For clarity, I will go straight to Section 3 of the National Security Act which says that, the State Security Service shall be charged with,:
(a), The Security and protection within Nigeria of any crime against it, Internal security of Nigeria;
(b) The protection and preservation of all classified matters concerning the security of Nigeria and;
(c) Such other responsibilities affecting internal security within Nigeria as National Assembly or the president as the case may be, may deem necessary.
This is where the federal government deemed it necessary to suspend the activities of twitter in Nigeria as it is inimical to the growth and stability of the country.”
Alh. Lai Mohammed also said twitter has also bridged Nigeria’s Anti-Terrorism Act 2011 that proscribed supporting or assisting any group for the commission of (a) an act of terrorism.
Citing the disbanded IPOB Group and Twitter’s support to END-SARS Protest as examples, Lai Mohammed said that twitter played a very unsavoury role by making available its platform to retweet, not just retweet the messages of the EndSARS protesters, but raising funds for the EndSARS protesters before it was hijacked by hoodlums.
According to the Minister, the EndSARS protest, led to the death of 57 civilians, 37 policemen, six soldiers, as well as 243 public properties destroyed and 200 brand new buses belonging to Lagos State government or the people of Lagos State razed to the ground. 83 warehouses were also vandalized.
“The Minister continued “Honourable members, as regards to freedom of expression on the twitter platform, as qualified by Section 45 of the Constitution which relies on the provisions of Sections 5(1) and (2) of the Terrorism Act of 2011, which states that, “Any person who knowingly in any manner, directly or indirectly assist or render support for the commission of (a) an act of terrorism or (b) to a terrorist group commits an offence under this Act.
“Honourable members, we all know that, IPOB is proscribed by a High Court in Nigeria, and yet, it is the platform of choice through which IPOB directs it people to kill soldiers, to kill policemen, burn Correctional Centers. That was why we said, twitter operations is inimical to our growth.
“So, both in law and National security, we have to suspend the operations.”
Nigeria is a sovereign country
On why the economic benefit of twitter to Nigerians was not considered while taking the decision, Alh. Lai Mohammed insisted that the interest of Multinationals would not dictate for Nigeria as a sovereign country.
The Minister, however, urged the lawmakers and Nigerians to always put the Nation first, saying that the suspension of twitter has nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Even the Companies and Allied Matters Act also supports our suspension of twitter operations in Nigeria. Because the primary law governing businesses in Nigeria is in the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020.”
“As it regards the operations of a foreign company operating in Nigeria, the law provides that, ‘A foreign company which fails to take necessary steps to obtain the incorporation is a separate entity in Nigeria, but until so incorporated, a foreign company shall not carry out business in Nigeria or exercise any powers of a registered company, that is Section 78(1) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020.
“Drawing from the above, a foreign company like twitter with no legitimate right to operate in Nigeria is not licensed to do such” the Minister said.
Promoting unity and a crisis free Nigeria
The Chairman House Committee on Information, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. Olusegun Odebunmi in a remark explained that the public hearing was to gather inputs for legislative action that would promote unity and crisis free country.
He said “The essence of this hearing is to make Nigerians acquainted with reasons of government actions on the subject matter.
“Therefore, it is very important to urge the stakeholders gathered in this hall, to ensure that, their presentation are guided by the spirit geared towards Nigeria’s unity, interests, sincerity of purpose to have a better and crisis free Nigeria through our collective efforts being propagated by the 9th House of Representatives”
On June 8, the House mandated its committees on Information and Culture, Justice, Communication and National Security and Intelligence to investigate government’s suspension of twitter following the outcries by many Nigerians.
Emmanuel Ukoh
