FG Can Manage #Twitterban Better –Sanwo-Olu

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria Monday, June 7th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed that the Federal Government can sign ‘rules of engagement’ with the San Francisco-based social media giant on Twitter management in the country

Disclosing this on Monday while featuring on Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’ programme.

He disclosed that , “People are losing money but there are also security issues. Let us be circumspect and not throw the baby away with the bath

According to him, the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), suspended Twitter operations in Nigeria, citing the “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”. The Federal Government’s action followed a deletion of a controversial civil war post by the President.

Since then the, Buhari regime has come under intense fire for what many perceive as a restriction of the right of expression. The international community has equally waded into matter, flaying the federal government on his position for the suspension of the micro blogging platform insisting on the fundamental rules must be respected.

Speaking on the development on Monday, Sanwo-Olu said, “Regarding the specifics around Twitter, I cannot sit down here with all of the responsibilities that I have and fly (sic) the commander in chief of the armed forces. He would have the prognosis and security information that I do not have. I cannot begin to say that was he’s done is right or wrong.

“What I see is that on both sides, there are issues that can be resolved between Twitter and the (Federal) Government and I think what they’ve done is not a ban but a suspension. So, in the period of suspension, let us sit down…we need to have that conversation with them (Twitter).

“In other climes, they sign some underlying agreements on the rules of engagement. I am not sure that is happening here. Having said that, the Federal Government can also handle things a lot better because of the number of e-commerce, because of the number of youths that are doing a lot of things on the internet and we cannot throw that away.

“I believe there could be better restrain and management from both sides. In the next one or two days, let us see that happen. Lagos is hurting, our youths are hurting, Nigeria is hurting, let us understand the issues and put it behind us so that we don’t politicise it.”

Though mobile operators have blocked their customers in the country from using Twitter, many Nigerians have switched to the use of Virtual Private Networks to bypass the blockage.