‘Nigeria needs Twitter as much as Twitter needs Nigeria’ – Ahmed Lawan

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has finally spoken on the ongoing suspension of Twitter operations by the Federal government.

Speaking with journalists at the national assembly in Abuja on Friday, Lawan highlighted the importance of the microblogging platform to Nigerians and expressed hope that both parties reach a consensus.

“The honorable minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, informed Nigerians that they are talking with Twitter to resolve this matter. Our belief is that Nigeria needs Twitter just as much as Twitter needs Nigeria,” he said.

“We believe that the matter between Twitter and the federal government of Nigeria will be resolved.

“But beyond that, I’m an optimist, I believe all of us will have learnt our lessons.”

The Federal Government on June 4 suspended the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.

Lai Mohammed, Minister of information, announced the suspension in a statement issued that Friday.

According to the statement, the minister cited “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.

The ban was subsequently followed by telecom operators in the country who deactivated twitter on their networks by 12 midnight on Saturday in Nigeria.