Twitter users in Nigeria will no longer need a VPN

Johnstone Kpilaakaa -

The Nigerian government has lifted the suspension of Twitter's operations in Nigeria after approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It's exactly 222 days [that's seven months] since Twitter was banned in Nigeria for the alleged "persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence".

The Chairman Technical Committee Nigeria-Twitter Engagement and Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE said, "The Federal Government of Nigeria directs me to inform the public that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the lifting of the suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria effective from 12am tonight, 13th January 2022".

During his Independence Day speech on October 1, 2021, President Buhari stated that "following the extensive engagements [with Twitter], 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".

We previously reported that an anonymous source told the Nation "Twitter has finally met six conditions set by the Federal Government for the lifting of the ban on its service in Nigeria at the close of business in 2021. The operation of Twitter will now be fully regulated, including the opening of office and deployment of a Country Representative. We can now hold an officer responsible for any infraction".

Amidst the ban, several Twitter users in continued to access the platform via VPNs even though the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami threatened to prosecute people defying the ban.

The federal government said Twitter has complied with these six conditions:

  1. Open an office in Nigeria
  2. Have a country representative
  3. Register with the Corporate Affairs Commission/get a National Broadcasting Commission’s license
  4. Pay fair taxes
  5. Be sensitive to national security and cohesion. Don't undermine the nation’s security
  6. Train Nigerian IT personnel and strategic intelligence officers on how to report Twitter abuse/infractions noticed by the government.