We’ll Checkmate Whatsapp, Facebook, and Instagram in Nigeria, just like Twitter — Lai Mohammed

According to the Federal Government, it plans to alter key statutes and codes in order to apply Twitter’s operational conditions in Nigeria on other social media platforms.

Lai Mohammed, Egypt’s Minister of Information and Culture, said this in Cairo at a meeting with Dr Amir Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communication and Information Technology.

The meeting took place on the margins of a bilateral discussion with the Africa Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) about how Nigeria can get money to boost its burgeoning creative sector.

Mohammed had brought certain private sector stakeholders involved in the Digital Switch Over (DSO) to Afreximbank for advice on how to get cash to complete the project, which is entirely funded by the private sector.

During his meeting with Talaat, the minister revealed that Nigeria was changing its National Broadcasting Act and Broadcasting Code to guarantee that all internet platforms operating in the country adhere to certain rules.

According to Mohammed, the decision was based on a recent development regarding the suspension of Twitter operations in the country, as well as an agreement established before the suspension was lifted.

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“The beauty of Twitter involvement is great.” Whatever applies to Twitter also applies to WhatsApp, Facebook, and other social media platforms.

“That is why we will be having a retreat to amend the NBC Act and the NBC Code to incorporate these new gains we made with the engagement with twitter” he said.

On the agreement reached with twitter which the minister said would be applicable to other online platforms, he said the micro blogging site had agreed to open the Nigerian office within the first quarter of 2022.

He claimed Twitter had committed to appoint a designated country representative within one month of the suspension being lifted, and that its global policy team would also be ready to speak with the government directly.

Twitter promised to comply with all regulatory requirements, including the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Nigeria Communication Commission regulations and guidelines, and the National Broadcasting Commission Code, according to the minister.

“Twitter has committed to pay all applicable taxes as required by Nigerian law, and they have pledged to do so within one week of resuming business.”

“Twitter committed to engage with the Federal Government immediately on a code of conduct that is compliant with international best practices.”

“Twitter committed to enroll Nigerians in its Law Enforcement and Partners Support Portals right now.”

“The law enforcement portal will give Nigerian law enforcement officials specific routes to escalate allegations of content that violates the code of conduct or national laws.”

“Similarly, the partner support platform gives the government a direct way to work with Twitter professionals to control unlawful content,” he said.

The minister clarified to his counterpart that Twitter operations in Nigeria were not halted because they published something disparaging the president that was widely circulated.

He explained that the operation was halted because Twitter had become the preferred forum for individuals seeking to destabilize Nigeria, sow discord, and inflame the political climate.

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“We were accused of running an authoritarian administration, attempting to restrict press freedom, and breaching the constitution, but we were certain in our minds of what we were doing.”

“We’re glad that after seven months of real involvement with twitter, we can state that what we accomplished is what the suspension of twitter’s operations was all about,” he said.

In his remarks, the Egyptian minister stated that his country faced similar difficulties in disseminating government ideas and programs.

He claimed he was recently the victim of a false news report, which he described as “devastating.”

To fight the threat, he claimed, a department was established in the Prime Minister’s office to monitor what kind of fake news was being spread on an hourly basis.

He stated that the government will instantly respond to such news by providing an accurate assessment of the situation.