Twitter ban: Experts react as Nigerian Govt moves to lift ban on social media

AISHA ADESHINA

Some stakeholders in the technology space have given reaction over the move by the Federal Government to lift the ban on Twitter which has entered 69days and said the ban ought not to have been in the first place.

Mr Chris Uwaje, a former prtesident of the Institute of software practitioners of Nigeria(ISPON) counts the loss of the country’s economy, with a loss of about N16 billion, going by the loss of N2.46 billion, according to the NetBlocks estimates. He said this scenario has affected education, financials, agriculture, food and commodities, employment, tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors of the economy.

A survey by Top10VPN estimates that the ban has affected around 104.4 million internet users in the country, using a tool developed by internet governance watchdog organisation, Netblocks, and Internet Society, a U.S. advocacy nonprofit. 

The FG disclosed that the plan to lift the suspension was based on some agreement reached in most areas of contention with the platform. Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.