The Federal Government says it is closely monitoring the activities of the popular micro-blogging, Twitter, following the recent ownership change of the platform.
Elon Musk, American billionaire, recently took over Twitter and introduced major changes.
The acquisition of Twitter, by Musk began on April 14, 2022, and was concluded on October 27, 2022, after months of back and forth, lawsuits and verbal mudslinging.
While making his opening remarks during an inter-ministerial press briefing to present President Muhammadu Buhari’s scorecard between 2015 and 2023, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, added that although no intention to ban any social media platform again, the government has resolve not to allow any social media platform to spread fake news, disinformation and hate speech.
The briefing also had Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika and the two permanent secretaries of both ministry in attendance.
According to Mohammed, the government has continued to engage positively with the different social media platforms, including Facebook, Google (owners of YouTube) and Twitter.
“Let me say this: We are closely monitoring the evolving developments at Twitter. It has never been our intention to ban any social media platform or stifle free speech. Not at all. What happened in the case of Twitter is well known to all.”
“Twitter became a platform of choice for those who want to destabilize Nigeria, ising fake news, disinformation and hate speech. No nation will allow any social media platform to plunge it into anarchy. Definitely not Nigeria.
“But we have continued to engage positively with the different social media platforms, including Facebook, Google (owners of YouTube) and Twitter.
“We have no intention of banning any social media platform again. But we will also not sit by and allow any platform whatsoever to throw our nation into crisis,” he said.