ICT
Twitter Ban In Nigeria And The Many Implications
Any responsible government would do everything doable to protect its corporate existence and the safety of its citizens; and so, when the Nigeria Federal Government suspend the use of the microblogging social media, Twitter in Nigeria on the premise of “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”, many elder statesmen that has foresight and or had worked for the unity of the country welcome it.
This is not the first time a government is banning or suspending a tech company that is perceived as hostile and so Nigeria is not the only country that has slammed a kind of restriction on tech companies for the reason of protecting citizenry and corporate existence.
Recently in February 2021, the India government release new intermediary Guidelines for social media platforms and asked all platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to follow these rules. They were given three months to comply with the rules or risked being suspend.
Also In recent episode of the US-China geopolitical showdown, President Joe Biden is enforcing a new executive order that bans investment in 59 Chinese companies including Huawei effective from August 2. The new decision prevents US investments in Chinese companies with suspected ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Joining Huawei on the list is chip maker SMIC, telecom operator China Mobile, video surveillance company Hikvision, and a plethora of Chinese defense sector companies, . A senior US official confirmed that about 58 and that more Chinese companies will likely be added to the list in the months to come.
According to gsmarena.com President Joe Biden was quoted as saying, “I find that the use of Chinese surveillance technology outside the PRC (People’s Republic of China) and the development or use of Chinese surveillance technology to facilitate repression or serious human rights abuse constitute unusual and extraordinary threats, which have their source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, and I hereby expand the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13959 to address those threats.”, to that effect.
The core issue with Huawei has been concerns about its coziness with the Chinese government and fears that its equipment could be used to spy on other countries and companies.
Why the twitter ban, first of its kind in Africa’s most populous country strange is because it came two days after the social media giant deleted a tweet from President Muhammadu Buhari’s account for violating its rule
However, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, while maintaining the stand of the FG at the investigative hearing organised by the House of Representatives joint committees on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values alongside the National Security, Justice and Commerce, on the controversial ban, had argued that the Nigerian government relied on the constitution, National Security Act, the Cybercrime law and Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA) before it decided to suspend Twitter’s operations.
Alhaji Mohammed cited the activities of the Chief Executive Officer of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, during the EndSARS protests as one of the reasons for the ban. It further said that Twitter also allowed it platform to be used by the proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) to promote seditious and terrorist activities.
At the hearing, the minister decried the role played by Twitter during the EndSARS protests last October, saying that it did not only retweet the messages of the protesters but also raised funds for them.
“During the EndSARS protest, the same Twitter played an unsavoury role, by making its platform to retweet, and not just retweet the messages of the EndSARS protesters, but raising funds for the EndSARS protesters, before it was hijacked by hoodlums,” he said.
Twitter has not come out publicly to refute all these claim!
The EndSARS protest caused wanton destruction and looting of properties running into billions of Naira across the country, with accompanying loss of live and perpetration of more criminal activities of varying degree; such as jail break.
However, some Nigerians are not seeing it that way. Unfortunately, Immediately after Twitter’s suspension, Twitter users in the country, through VPNs, flooded the platform to express their anger and disappointment, prompting the Nigerian attorney general’s office order for immediate prosecution of Nigerians who try to bypass the government’s Twitter ban after the government suspended its operations.
Other advocates call on the FG to lift the suspension immediately takuing into cognizance the negative effect of the Twitter suspension on Nigerians who depend on the platform for their livelihood,
Engr. Benjamin Femi however has divergent opinion. He said that, “Individual benefits from a use of a particular social media that has been proved to be causing more harm than good may not be significant considering the collective disadvantages and national interest in the long run.”
“There may be more to this. Aside the initial claim that twitter platform is being used for activities inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria. Nigeria that has been celebrated as one of the few African countries attracting investment into its tech ecosystem was shunned when Twitter chose mere Ghana for its first African headquarters, which country will take that?” Benjamin further querried.
About 39 million Nigerians have a Twitter account, more than Ghana’s entire population of 32 million.
And so, one of the conditions given social media operating in the country is to establish office in Nigeria.
Twitter’s decision to choose Ghana over Nigeria was evident in a statement where the organisation described Ghana “as a champion for democracy, a supporter of free speech, online freedom, and the Open Internet”, and analysts said that this is a confirmation of Twitter’s decision not to choose Nigeria in the first place.
In 2021, as Nigeria ranked 120th out of 180 countries in the Reporters without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, Analysts expressed fear that Buhari’s administration is reminiscent of his 1984 military regime. That He imposed draconian legislation that allowed the government to imprison any journalist or civil society member guilty of “embarrassing” the country’s military leader.
Many are afraid that the FG is removing freedom of speech by gaging the social media platforms. Aljazeera quoted Alumona, a 24 year old Nigerian as saying that, “The way things are going, I’m scared as a Nigerian because we don’t know what’s coming next,” he said.
Aside this, there is nothing wrong in the FG protecting 39 million Nigerian twitter users and regulating the activities of social media platforms, just the way traditional media are regulated in the country. The FG also directing social media to also establish office in Nigeria if they want to continue their business in Nigeria does not look like a bad idea.
Social media should show a little more respect for their customers in Nigeria. Twitter for instance, does not prioritize their customer base in Nigeria when it took it Africa Head Office to Ghana. This is because a customer base of over 39 million users may need to be travelling to Ghana to resolve social media account issue if need arise. That is a substantial loss of revenue!
According to, Tom Chukwudili, “The current stand of the FG would sanitise the social media scape by eliminating fake news, hate speech and entrenching cultural value into social. It would also create opportunity and avenue for homegrown social media that truly understand Nigeria cultural value to thrive.”
“As a software developer, if you have any problem with integration of some of the social media components, it take months, if not years to fix. Because they are not here in Nigeria where you can easily go and complain to them in their office.”, Tom lamented.
As debate rages on activities and regulation of social media, we hope that the authorities come out with framework that would engender safe social media for all.
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ICT
Kogi First Lady Calls For Responsible Use Of ICT
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The wife of Kogi Governor, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, has called on youths across the state to embrace responsible use of Information and Communication Technology and digital platforms as tools for promoting positive values in society.
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Mrs Ododo made the call at a sensitization programme held in Government House, Lokoja, to commemorate the 2025 International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, and 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence,
The First Lady said the celebration was part of Kogi Government’s efforts to strengthen the campaign against violence targeted at women and girls in the state.
She stressed the significance of this year’s theme, which focuses on combating the growing menace of digital violence.
Mrs Ododo urged all well‑meaning citizens of Kogi State and Nigeria to reject every form of online abuse, harassment, and harmful content while prioritizing the protection and wellbeing of their families.
She emphasised that violence, whether physical, emotional, or digital, remains a major destroyer of homes, bringing sorrow, disunity, and strife, and appealed to parents, especially mothers, to be vigilant in monitoring their children’s online and offline activities.
Reaffirming the Kogi State Government’s commitment, she noted that safeguarding women and children is a top priority, promoting equal access to education, supporting girls’ and women’s participation in policy‑making, and strengthening empowerment structures.
The First Lady also called on women and girls to stand against digital violence, break the silence, and empower themselves to use digital platforms wisely,
She urging men and boys to join the fight and foster a culture of respect and equality.
The Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade (PhD), and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Acharu Okpanachi, reaffirmed a united front against violence targeting women and girls in the state.
Ayoade emphasized that the fight is collective, and urged every stakeholder to contribute to a safer society for women and girls.
Hon. Okpanachi said that her ministry will collaborate closely with partners to shield women from all forms of violence and is launching a program offering counseling, support services, and awareness campaigns on women’s rights.
Several speakers also highlighted the importance of women gathering evidence—such as screenshots—to strengthen justice efforts.
The Governor’s wife with other dignitaries had earlier in the morning led Kogi women and girls on a road walk across Lokoja streets on campaign to stop violence against women and girls in the state and Nigeria at large.
Ends.
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ICT
Digital Economy and eGovernance: Stakeholders Endorse Bill, Demand Institutional Role Definition
By AbdulRahman Obaje
Stakeholders across Nigeria’s digital and technology ecosystem have expressed support for the proposed National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, describing it as a vital step toward establishing a comprehensive legal framework that will strengthen digital governance, boost innovation, and accelerate socio-economic development.
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However, they urged the National Assembly to address potential overlaps between the proposed law and the mandates of existing agencies to prevent institutional conflict and regulatory burden.
The submissions were made on Monday during a Public Hearing convened by the Joint Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives on ICT, Cybersecurity, Digital and Information Technology at the National Assembly, Abuja.
Among groups that presented their position was the Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting (NADIR), which commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and federal lawmakers for the initiative.
Presenting NADIR’s memorandum, its Legal Adviser, Barrister Yunus AbdulSalam (SAN), said the Bill represents a significant legislative intervention aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s digital governance ecosystem and regulating emerging technologies. He, however, cautioned that certain provisions appear to replicate functions already assigned to agencies such as NITDA, NCC, and NDPC.
Such duplication, he warned, could “trigger constitutional and institutional disputes, raise compliance costs, and discourage private sector participation and investment.”
He recommended that the National Assembly adopt a “consolidation and amendment approach,” extracting the Bill’s innovative elements and integrating them into the existing Act, rather than creating new regulatory overlaps.
Responding, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, said the Bill would enhance Nigeria’s digital competitiveness, strengthen e-governance service delivery, improve transparency, and boost the ease of doing business, particularly in the ICT sector.
He noted that the digital economy currently contributes about 20 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, adding that the passage of the Bill would unlock greater opportunities for job creation, innovation, and revenue growth.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Digital and Information Technology, Honourable Adedeji Stanley Olajide, said the engagement reflects Nigeria’s commitment to building a transparent and innovation-driven governance structure. He emphasized that collaboration among lawmakers, regulators, and industry players marked “a new phase in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.”
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, lauded the National Assembly for advancing the Bill and assured that stakeholder concerns would be considered to guarantee a balanced outcome. He said the proposed framework seeks to enable seamless data sharing across government institutions and foster stronger synergy with the private sector.
He also highlighted the Bill’s provisions on Artificial Intelligence (AI), describing AI as a strategic tool that could enhance Nigeria’s productivity and global digital competitiveness.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, stressed that Nigeria must adopt a modern digital legal framework to benefit from ongoing global technological shifts. He cited the application of AI in agriculture for real-time access to data on best practices, weather patterns, and input quality as an example of the potential impact on food security.
Stakeholders present at the hearing included the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Galaxy Backbone, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), among others.
Declaring the hearing open, the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, who represented Senate President Godswill Akpabio, described the Bill as a bold step toward aligning Nigeria’s governance and economic policies with global digital realities.
The Bill, if passed into law, is expected to play a transformational role in Nigeria’s digital economy comparable to the telecommunications liberalization policy of 2001.
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ICT
Kogi State Govt, MTN Resolves Long-standing Dispute
By Abdulrahman Obaje
The Kogi State Government has resolved its long-standing dispute with MTN Nigeria over tax remittance and operational compliance.
This is contained in a press release dated May 22, 2025 and signed by the Press Secretary to the Kogi State Deputy Governor, Unubi Emmanuel
The meeting, held Wednesday at the Government House in Lokoja, was initiated by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and chaired by his Deputy, Comrade Joel Salifu.
Governor Ododo, through his Deputy called on corporate organizations to adhere to tax obligations and operational protocols in their relationship with the government.
He described recent disagreement with the telecom operator that led to service disruptions in the state as a routine challenge in institutional relationships.
The Governor lauded the role of the NCC in mediating in the impasse and acknowledged the willingness of all parties to respect agreements reached by the parties.
He emphasized that Kogi remains open for business, assuring investors of a conducive environment to operate and thrive.
Ealier, Engr. Abraham Oshadami, who spoke on behalf of the National Communications Commission (NCC) revealed that both MTN Nigeria and the state government have agreed to a mutually acceptable terms of settlement of outstanding debts owed Kogi state government by the telecoms operator.
He commmended Governor Ododo for fostering policies that support businesses to grow, adding that the peaceful resolution of the face-off would boost investor confidence and benefit the people of the state.
The meeting was attended by Hon. Hilary Ojoma Egwudah, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor; Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS); Alhaji Taofik Isah, Director General of the Kogi State Utility, Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency (KUIMCA); and Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner for Technical Services at the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), among others.
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