COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF
07 June 2021 | Business
Telecoms firms suspend access to Twitter
Nigerian telecoms firms blocked access to Twitter on Saturday following a regulatory directive aimed at suspending the US social media giant indefinitely, a move criticised by rights campaigners and diplomats as a gag on free speech.
Nigeria's government said on Friday it had suspended Twitter's activities indefinitely, two days after the platform removed a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari that threatened to punish regional secessionists in the West African country.
The country's main telecoms industry body, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), confirmed the suspension.
"Based on national interest provisions our members have acted in compliance with the directives of the Nigerian Communications Commission," ALTON said.
Information Minister Lai Mohammed said on Friday the government had acted because of "the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence".
Twitter, which could not immediately be reached to comment on Saturday, said a day earlier it was investigating its "deeply concerning" suspension by the Nigerian government. - Nampa/Reuters
Nigerian telecoms firms blocked access to Twitter on Saturday following a regulatory directive aimed at suspending the US social media giant indefinitely, a move criticised by rights campaigners and diplomats as a gag on free speech.
Nigeria's government said on Friday it had suspended Twitter's activities indefinitely, two days after the platform removed a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari that threatened to punish regional secessionists in the West African country.
The country's main telecoms industry body, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), confirmed the suspension.
"Based on national interest provisions our members have acted in compliance with the directives of the Nigerian Communications Commission," ALTON said.
Information Minister Lai Mohammed said on Friday the government had acted because of "the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence".
Twitter, which could not immediately be reached to comment on Saturday, said a day earlier it was investigating its "deeply concerning" suspension by the Nigerian government. - Nampa/Reuters
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