Samantha Power
The United States government has warned the Nigerian Government to reverse its ban on Twitter immediately, that it was tantamount to opposing free speech.
Samantha Power, an administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, made this known in a statement on Wednesday. She revealed that Twitter has over 40 million users in Nigeria saying that the directive must be reversed immediately.
“There are almost 40 Million Twitter users in Nigeria, and the country is home to Africa’s largest tech hub.
Come to think of it, “This suspension is nothing more than state-sanctioned denial of free speech and it should be reversed immediately.”
“The Nigeria’s constitution provides for freedom of expression. The Government’s recent #Twitterban undermines Nigerians’ ability to exercise this fundamental freedom and sends a poor message to its citizens, investors and businesses.”
The US mission in Nigeria has also issued an earlier statement via its Facebook page pointing out that the ban was an encroachment to the Peoples right to Freedom
“Banning social media and curbing every citizen’s ability to seek, receive, and impart information undermines fundamental freedoms. As President Biden has stated, our need for individual expression, open public conversation, and accountability has never been greater. The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less communication, alongside concerted efforts toward unity, peace, and prosperity,” He added.
