NewStats: 3,263,196 , 8,179,372 topics. Date: Thursday, 05 June 2025 at 02:07 AM 6e3a2k

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ON TWITTER SUSPENSION IN NIGERIA

The temporary suspension of Twitter is not just a response to the removal of the President’s post. There has been a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real world violent consequences. All the while, the company has escaped ability.

Nevertheless, the removal of President Buhari’s tweet was disappointing. The censoring seemed based on a misunderstanding of the challenges Nigeria faces today.

The President in his address at the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA in 2019 said "the world was shocked and startled by the massacre in New Zealand by a lone gunman taking the lives of 50 worshippers."

This and similar crimes which have been fueled by social media networks risk seeping into the fabric of an emerging digital culture.

Major tech companies must be alive to their responsibilities. They cannot be allowed to continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic and false messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to loss of many lives. This could tear some countries apart.

President Buhari has therefore been warning against social media's disruptive and divisive influences and the government’s action is not a knee-jerk reaction to Twitter’s preposterous deletion of his tweet which should have been read in full.

The tweet was not a threat, but a statement of fact.

A terrorist organisation (IPOB) poses a significant threat to the safety and security of Nigerian citizens.

When the President said that they will be treated “in a language they understand,” he merely reiterated that their force shall be met with force. It is a basic principle of security services response world over.

This is not promotion of hate, but a pledge to uphold citizens’ right to freedom from harm. The government cannot be expected to capitulate to terrorists.

IPOB is proscribed under Nigerian law. Its murder innocent Nigerians. They kill policemen and set government property on fire. Now, they have amassed a substantial stockpile of weapons and bombs across the country.

Twitter does not seem to appreciate the national trauma of our country's civil war. This government shall not allow a recurrence of that tragedy.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
June 5, 2021

https://m.facebook.com/1528952840718244/posts/3043742655905914/?app=fbl

Twitter suspension in Nigeria is long overdue

The FG can't allow that American app to keep promoting anarchy.

CilicMarin:
Freedom of Speech.. But Buhari tweet was deleted?

Anyway, the Federal Govt. is no way hindering freedom of speech...We still have Facebook, Nairaland, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, crowwe etc..

FG only banned one platform where irresponsible speech capable of wrecking havoc to the corporate existence Nigeria is permitted and that is Twitter...

God Bless Nigeria..

IPOB is proscribed under Nigerian law. Its murder innocent Nigerians. They kill policemen and set government property on fire. Now, they have amassed a substantial stockpile of weapons and bombs across the country.

Twitter does not seem to appreciate the national trauma of our country's civil war. This government shall not allow a recurrence of that tragedy.


God bless president Asadullahi Buhari

madridguy:
IPOB is proscribed under Nigerian law. Its murder innocent Nigerians. They kill policemen and set government property on fire. Now, they have amassed a substantial stockpile of weapons and bombs across the country.

Twitter does not seem to appreciate the national trauma of our country's civil war. This government shall not allow a recurrence of that tragedy.


God bless president Asadullahi Buhari

another BMC(Buhari media cow) spotted, always following buhari their herdsman to anywhere he goes.

Presidential Statement On Twitter Suspension In Nigeria By.......

[img]https://media./images/4daf28755ba0ce41c759651150c34b45/tenor.gif[/img]

-----------------Shehu-------------

Running to Facebook that also banned the same genocide statement

Your hypocrisy stinks, we don't need any explanation why you banned twitter


Just stop this embarrassing tears you keep wailing for a site you supposedly banned

Someday Lai Muhammed and Femi Adesina will sit and reminisce about the past and realize how stupid they were defending this government.

The suspension shouldn't be temporary but permanent!!!

The fact is that the deleted Buhari's tweet, which referenced the civil war tragedies didn't hit directly at Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB or ESN if they were the targets. No, it didn't. It pointedly hit the sensibilities of generality of Igbo race in particular and other non-northern ethnic nationalities in general.

In as much as every Igbo person dreams of an equitable Nigeria or preferably realization of the Promised Land, Biafra, the truth is that not every Igbo agree with Nnamdi Kanu's views or methods.

In any case, the Commander-in-Chief didn't have to make a boastful statement to enthrone security and enforce order in South East. He just needed to do the needful: give routine orders and give critical approvals.

However, truth be told, just like Buhari's tweet was deleted, some of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's tweets deserve to be deleted. But I guess FG has to make representations to Twitter about that.

fiizznation:
The suspension shouldn't be temporary but permanent!!!

like your permanent zombism

Osebanjo:
Someday Lai Muhammed and Femi Adesina will sit and reminisce about the past and realize how stupid they were defending this government.

Just like Uncle Reuben who was even used and dumped. 2023 no too far

NiceCeSi:
And they used Facebook? What if they ban Facebook tomorrow, what would they now use?

This jihadists are banning everything one by one

The blanket fake news,social media regulation excuse would be used over and over

Until croweie becomes the NTA of social media under the disguise of grow Nigeria content

Is this guy still spewing rubbish, in a right thinking government this guy can’t be a SSA to the President on media and Publicity

This is total rubbish, are we in military regime where there is no freedom of speech or what.

I think its high time we come out boldly and reject this act.

Bandits, bokoraham, kidnappers and other evil perpetrators are there, they could not wipe them off. This government has failed in all areas.

God bless me and all nairalanders.

Mikecold:
like your permanent zombism

You must be out of your mind

sammy329:
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ON TWITTER SUSPENSION IN NIGERIA

The temporary suspension of Twitter is not just a response to the removal of the President’s post. There has been a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real world violent consequences. All the while, the company has escaped ability.

Nevertheless, the removal of President Buhari’s tweet was disappointing. The censoring seemed based on a misunderstanding of the challenges Nigeria faces today.

The President in his address at the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA in 2019 said "the world was shocked and startled by the massacre in New Zealand by a lone gunman taking the lives of 50 worshippers."

This and similar crimes which have been fueled by social media networks risk seeping into the fabric of an emerging digital culture.

Major tech companies must be alive to their responsibilities. They cannot be allowed to continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic and false messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to loss of many lives. This could tear some countries apart.

President Buhari has therefore been warning against social media's disruptive and divisive influences and the government’s action is not a knee-jerk reaction to Twitter’s preposterous deletion of his tweet which should have been read in full.

The tweet was not a threat, but a statement of fact.

A terrorist organisation (IPOB) poses a significant threat to the safety and security of Nigerian citizens.

When the President said that they will be treated “in a language they understand,” he merely reiterated that their force shall be met with force. It is a basic principle of security services response world over.

This is not promotion of hate, but a pledge to uphold citizens’ right to freedom from harm. The government cannot be expected to capitulate to terrorists.

IPOB is proscribed under Nigerian law. Its murder innocent Nigerians. They kill policemen and set government property on fire. Now, they have amassed a substantial stockpile of weapons and bombs across the country.

Twitter does not seem to appreciate the national trauma of our country's civil war. This government shall not allow a recurrence of that tragedy.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
June 5, 2021
https://m.facebook.com/1528952840718244/posts/3043742655905914/?app=fbl


Cc: Lalasticlala
Mynd44

Aptly put

Idiotss, Twitter like nairaland is run by Mods, these mods don't give a hoot about you!
Reports are handled on random basis,
But zombies make it sound like Jack is personally monitoring Garbage Shehus tweets!

Same way a particular moniker has been claiming NL is anti North!

Even Seun and hin BMC mods go soon hear am

Spot on

Trash

This message should have been issued since yesterday. It explains a lot. Those who are hellbent on misunderstandings the position of FG will still do so no matter the explanation. However, for those with open minds, it explains a lot.

Hopefully, Twitter will start playing by the rules of common sense and stop ing terrorism against Nigeria. The Twitter ban is an anomaly but a necessary evil. I hope it’s lifted as soon as possible.

For me, it’s Nigeria first. I will never put an irresponsible big tech company from an imperialist country over the corporate existence of my country.

We the patriotic Nigerians stand with Buhari on this ban.

Nobody I repeat nobody can make the FG reverse its decision.

Ipob are proscribed and are a terorists organizations and will be treated with the language they understand

Twitter will not tell us they are not aware of the happening in Nigeria.

The platform used for propagating fake news that are capable to cause Violence.

China did it, heaven didnt fall. Twitter must operate according to the laws of our land..

Ipob are terorists and must be crushed

seunmsg:
This message should have been issued since yesterday. It explains a lot.

I knew all along!
This message was to have been relayed with the back staff of twitter !
Unfortunately twitter who did not understand the dynamics of what was happening misbehaved.

How about herdsmen what are they?

Always resist the urge to shalaye.


Catapults full ground,,,,

Social media bill is about to play out

OnionBandit:
Spot on

Mugu, dey just killed 88 ppl in Kebbi state. Keep wanking on IPOB nad Twitter ban.
The killings go soon reach ur family back to back, den we'll come here to shout spot on

The government should stay away from social media, I wonder why this press release was put on Facebook while Facebook also deleted the genocidal message from the president....


The president of a country should be a unifying figure and not one that propagate contempt for a particular section of the country, it beats my imagination how our so called enlightened peeps here are comparing Buhari a president to Nnamdi Kanu who is a non state actor as regards post on Twitter.....

Tinubu just de one side de observe everything weh de happen.

In his mind he'll be like allow them (aboki people) to flex their muscles. We'll pay them double when it gets to our turn in two years time.

The way Tinubu is right now, he cannot find fault in anything this present government does. 2023 is the target.

Such an astute politician and I'm such a huge fan.