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  • Twitter Set To Pay Tax, Establish ‘Legal Entity’ In Nigeria As Suspension Is Lifted

    Twitter Set To Pay Tax, Establish ‘Legal Entity’ In Nigeria As Suspension Is Lifted

     

    Social media giant Twitter has agreed to pay “applicable tax” and establish a legal entity in Nigeria in the first quarter of 2022, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

     

    Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency, who headed the Nigerian team that negotiated with Twitter, said in a statement while announcing the lifting of the more than six-month-long suspension of the social media platform in the country.

     

    Twitter will also appoint a “designated country representative to interface with Nigerian authorities” by 2023 and register with the Corporate Affairs Commissiion, Abdullahi said.

     

    The platform is also expected to enroll Nigeria in its Partner Support and Law Enforcement Portals. The Law Enforcement Portal provides a channel for the law enforcement agencies to submit a report with a legal justification where it suspects that content violates Nigerian Laws.

     

    “Twitter has agreed to act with a respectful acknowledgement of Nigerian laws and the national culture and history on which such legislation has been built and work with the FGN and the broader industry to develop a Code of Conduct in line with global best practices, applicable in almost all developed countries,” Abdullahi said.

     

    Nigeria suspended Twitter in June 2021, days after the platform deleted a remark from Buhari’s account, provoking outcry over freedom of expression in Africa’s most populous country.

     

    Nigerian officials defended the suspension saying Twitter was used to promote fake news and for destabilising activities, especially by separatists in the southeast.

     

    Buhari’s government and Twitter have been in talks over a list of conditions for ending the suspension, including discussions on taxes, content, and registering locally in Nigeria.

     

    “The issues are being addressed and I have directed that the suspension be lifted, but only if the conditions are met to allow our citizens to continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements,” Buhari said in a speech marking Nigeria’s independence day.

     

  • Twitter Has Reached Out To Us For ‘High-Level Negotiation,’ Says FG

    Twitter Has Reached Out To Us For ‘High-Level Negotiation,’ Says FG

     

    The Federal Government says the management of tech giant, Twitter, has reached out for dialogue.

     

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said this on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council.

     

    He said Twitter reached out to the Federal Government on Wednesday morning for ‘high-level discussion.’

     

    He declared that the ban has so far been very effective following reports of Twitter’s huge financial losses running into billions.

     

    The Information Minister maintains that Twitter has been a platform of choice for separatists to thrive and would be disallowed from operating until it is duly registered, licensed, and operates within regulations.

     

    When the Minister was asked about the law under which Nigerians who violate the Twitter ban would be prosecuted, Lai refrained from answering and asked that the Attorney General of the Federation provide answers.

     

    Speaking concerning the discussion at the FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, Mohammed insisted on the ban and asked politicians to rise beyond various divisions and queue behind the country’s decision to ban the microblogging site.

     

     

    – Tax Payment and Registration –

     

    Minister Lai Mohammed also spoke concerning the payment of tax by tech giants in the country.

     

    He explained that most of the OTT and social media platforms operating in Nigeria do not have offices either do they pay taxes for the billions earned.

     

    Henceforth, the Federal government has resolved to ensure other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram be registered in the country and adverts have been published to this effect.

     

    The information minister, despite criticism by Human Rights groups, insists that freedom of speech has not been stifled as a result of the ban.

     

    He maintained that other social media platforms are still available for use. 

     

  • FG, Twitter in Talks Over Suspension

    FG, Twitter in Talks Over Suspension

     

    The Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, on Monday, confirmed that Nigeria is in discussion with Twitter over suspension of its operations in Nigeria.

     

    Leonard said this during a closed-door meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, ambassadors and representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and the EU in Nigeria.

     

    Onyeama had said the suspension of Twitter was in the interest of national security and peace.

     

    He stressed that the objective of the ban was to advocate for a responsible use of social media platforms that would not destabilize the peace and unity of the country.

     

    Reacting, Leonard thanked the Minister for inviting them for the meeting and expressed satisfaction that the federal government and Twitter were in talks.

     

    She said the representatives were Nigeria’s strong partners on issues of security and they recognise the daunting task on the issues of security that confronts the country.

     

    “We recognise that there are issues of irresponsible use of social media, but we remain firm in our position that free access to the ability to express self is very important and perhaps more important in troubled times,’’ NAN quoted her as saying.

     

    She said many of the things Onyeama referred to, including incitements and violence, were crimes the Nigerian government had legitimate right to prosecute.

     

    Leonard urged the federal government to use its judicial processes within the scope of respect for human rights and the rule of law to restrain such behaviours. 

  • Telcos Finally Block Twitter Following FG’s Order

    Telcos Finally Block Twitter Following FG’s Order

     

    Telecoms operators in Nigeria have blocked Twitter in Nigeria, a day after the Federal government announced its indefinite suspension.

     

    Twitter users in the country woke up on Saturday unable to access the microblogging websites while some navigated the hurdle using Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

     

    The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), an industry group, confirmed it had received directives from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry regulator, to suspend access to Twitter.

     

    The President of ALTON, Gbenga Adebayo, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

     

    Mr Adebayo noted that the association wished to confirm that its members had received formal instructions from NCC, the industry regulator, to suspend access to Twitter.

     

    “ALTON has also conducted a robust assessment of the request in accordance with internationally accepted principles.

     

    “Based on national interest provisions in the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and within the licence terms under which the industry operates; our members have acted in compliance with the directives of NCC, the industry regulator.

     

    “We will continue to engage all relevant authorities and stakeholders and will act as may be further directed by the NCC, ” Mr Adebayo said.

     

    He said the association remains committed to supporting the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and upholding the rights of citizens.

     

    He, however, said as an industry, ALTON endorsed the position of the United Nations that the rights held by people offline must also be protected online.

     

    He noted that this included respecting and protecting the rights of all people to communicate, to share information freely and responsibly, and to enjoy privacy and security regarding their data and their use of digital communications.

     

     

    Civil War Tweet

     

    The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter in the country.

     

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,

    announced the suspension in a statement issued by his office in Abuja.

     

    He cited the persistent use of the platform for activities that are “capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”

     

    The Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.

     

    The government had announced the suspension barely 48 hours after the microblogging site deleted a post by Mr Buhari referencing the country’s civil war, and threatening to treat those attacking government buildings “with the language they understand.”

     

    His comments received condemnation from Nigerians.

     

     

     

    -‘Repressive action’ –

     

    Amnesty International on Friday condemned the move, calling on Nigeria to “immediately reverse the unlawful suspension”.

     

    “This repressive action is a clear attempt to censor dissent & stifle the civic space,” Human Rights Watch researcher Anietie Ewang said.

     

    Twitter said that the move was “deeply concerning”.

     

    “We’re investigating and will provide updates when we know more,” the company said in a statement.

     

    The UK’s deputy high commissioner in Nigeria, Gill Atkinson in reaction to the suspension said “any action taken by government must be measured, proportionate and not suppress basic freedoms.”

     

    Nigeria in 2019 had announced it would tighten regulations on social media to fight fake news and disinformation, sparking concerns over freedom of expression.

     

    Several countries including China and Turkey have come under fire for putting restrictions on social media platforms such as Twitter.

     

    In February Twitter condemned Myanmar for blocking access to its platform as part of a crackdown on social media, days after a coup that saw Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders jailed.