The government of Muhammadu Buhari has announced that the social media giant Twitter would open an office in Nigeria in the first quarter of 2022.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this on a weekend radio broadcast.
Other social media sites, including as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and others, would be forced to create offices in the nation and implement the agreements struck with Twitter, according to Mohammed.
BREAKING: Twitter Set To Open Office In Nigeria
He said that applicable Nigerian legislation and the broadcasting code would be updated to guarantee that the Twitter agreements applied to other social media sites.
The minister stated that the plan to regulate social media is to ensure that only wholesome contents are available on social media and not to stifle the press or violate the right of expression.
He said the government has the responsibility to ensure that social media platforms are responsible and the contents they displayed were not harmful to young people as well as the unity of the country.
He said: “We are going to regulate the social media not because we want to stifle the media or we want to violate the right of expression. We want to ensure that only wholesome contents are available on social media,” the minister said.
After Twitter, FG Move To Regulate Facebook, WhatsApp, Others
“Recently, we were all shocked when an 18-year old boy accused of killing his 21-year old girlfriend for money rituals confessed that he leant the diabolical act on social media. The teenager, in collaboration with his friends, cut off the head of the victim and were burning it in a pot when they were apprehended.
“The government has the responsibility to ensure that social media platforms are responsible and the contents they displayed were not harmful to young people as well as the unity of the country.
“Twitter also agreed to comply with all payable taxes, as they are operating under Nigerian laws and this they agreed to do within one week of restoring their operations. Twitter agreed to immediately work with the federal government in the area of code of conduct that are in line with global best practices
“Twitter agreed to immediately enrol Nigerians in its law enforcement portals and partners support portal. The law enforcement portal will provide dedicated channels for the Nigerian law enforcement agencies to escalate reports on content that violate the code of conduct or national laws.
Mixed Reactions Over FG’s Plan To Regulate Social Media
“Similarly, the partner support portal provides a direct channel for government to engage Twitter staff to manage prohibited contents.”
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.