A tweet by Twitter’s Public Policy on Saturday said open
internet is an essential human right and it will help Nigerians who rely on its
platform connect with the world.
Twitter made the vow in reaction to the indefinite
suspension slammed on it by the Nigerian Government.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had
on Friday announced the suspension of Twitter during a press conference in
Abuja while explaining that Nigerians were persistently using the platform for
activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
The action taken by the Nigerian government now puts the
country in the class of North Korea, Iran, China and Turkmenistan that banned
access to Twitter.
Egypt, Turkey, and the United Kingdom have also temporarily
suspended the use of Twitter.
The decision to ban Twitter was taken just a few days after
the site deleted a tweet it considered offensive where Buhari threatened the
Southeast with war.
The tweet reads, “We are deeply concerned by the blocking of
Twitter in Nigeria. Access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential human
right in modern society.
“We will work to restore access for all those in Nigeria who
rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world. #KeepitOn.”