Last month, on June 4th, Nigeria made a decision that would further the country’s democratic decline. The government decided to block the social media platform, Twitter, which approximately 40 million Nigerians use. This dramatic decision followed a highly contentious volatile tweet sent by Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, that was said to incite violence towards separatist groups within the nation. The tweet stated:

‘Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war will treat them in the language they understand.’

Buhari’s tweet referred to Nigeria’s civil war between 1967-70 which saw a conflict between the Nigerian state and the republic of Biafra. Buhari was tweeting in the context of recent unrest in the country, referring to ‘those misbehaving’ in violence in the Southeastern part of the country. The separatist groups in question are Biafrans, who are also known as the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB). The Nigerian government have wanted for some time to crack down on the banned group they deem as terrorists and officials in the Southeastern region have blamed the IPOB group for attacks on police and election offices.

Twitter has a policy that does not tolerate tweets that incite violence and, in a move that angered the Nigerian government, deleted President Buhari’s tweet for going against this guideline policy. Buhari is one of the most prominent world leaders to have had this intervention, alongside others like Donald Trump who had his account suspended over content that incited violence following the Capitol Hill riots in January this year.

The Nigerian government contested Twitter’s decision to delete Buhari’s tweet as Twitter had not banned incitement tweets from other groups including the now exiled leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. Twitter followed by deleting these tweets but just two days later Nigerian officials blocked the app, excluding access for millions of people.

The government cited ‘the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence’ as the reason for the ban. The spokesperson for government officials, Garba Sheu, also stated that:

‘There has been a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigerian where misinformation and fake news spread throughout it and have had real world violent consequences.’

Buhari’s office denied the Twitter suspension was a response to the removal of the post but many do not believe this to be true. Twitter commented that the blocking of their app in the country also escalated the issue, calling the country’s decision to ban the platform ‘deeply concerning.’ Not only has Twitter been a critical source of breaking news for people around the world, especially for Nigerians, but also a means for political change in the country and a way of expressing opinions.

What backlash has the decision faced?

Various countries such as the US, Britain, Ireland, and Canada have criticised Nigeria’s actions. Also, organisations like the European Union and Amnesty International have condemned Nigeria’s decision. Seun Bakar, a spokesperson for Amnesty International stated that the Nigerian authorities should:

“Immediately reverse the unlawful suspension and other plans to gag the media to repress the civic space and to undermine human rights of the people. The Nigerian government has an obligation to protect and promote international human rights laws and standards.”

The Twitter ban is not the first attempt by the Nigerian government to curtail social media amidst criticism from the people. Last year, several protests broke out across the country concerning police brutality from SARS (or the Special Anti-Robbery Squad). Consequently, the #EndSARS movement began to trend across the world calling for the disbandment of the police unit that had charges of harassment, excessive force and extortion of Nigerians.

The fact this movement was successful in disbanding SARS ultimately shows the power of social media. In Nigeria, Twitter is more than just a platform for communication, it is a one-stop-shop for everything including a civic space to hold public officials to account. Now without this platform, young people who rely on the app to voice their frustrations with the government’s alleged corruption are left even more vulnerable.

In addition, it is reported that ‘each day of the Twitter shutdown will cost the Nigerian economy over 2 billion naira ($6 million)’ with experts claiming this will increase already high unemployment figures amongst young people.

What is being done to correct the issue?

Twitter has said that it is working to restore the platform in Nigeria, but the government has warned that it will prosecute violators. 

Furthermore, Twitter users across the country have been avoiding the shutdown by using virtual private networks also known as VPNs that work so that the government cannot see the exact location of a user and the account appears from another country. Of course, this is just a temporary solution for a long term issue, and it is risky.

Other social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have seen a surge of usage over the years as they have gained popularity, especially during the pandemic. Although these platforms are suitable for sharing discourse on current issues, the point still stands that it is extremely worrying that the Nigerian authorities have been able to cut off access to such an important medium of communication.

Final thoughts

A month later, and the smoke still has not cleared from the tensions between Twitter boss Jack Dorsey and the Nigerian government. Where does this leave younger generations who, like the rest of the world, use Twitter as a means of micro-blogging information? This is a human rights issue that constrains the core tenets of democracy in the form of freedom of speech and expression. The world awaits in the hope that Nigeria’s decision can be reversed before it is too late.

About the Author: Olivia McDonald

Olivia McDonald is a contributing Features Writer, with a special interest in History and Politics of the Americas. Her expertise lies in social and political issues that affect people from marginalised communities.