The US Department of State has asked the federal government to reverse its decision to indefinitely suspend Twitter in Nigeria.
The US state department said that while it supports Nigeria’s quest for unity and peace, the country must also respect the right to free speech.
The Buhari administration had banned Twitter in Nigeria, citing “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.
Although no connection has been drawn yet, the move came two days after Twitter took down President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet which it said violated its rules.
“Unduly restricting the ability of Nigerians to report, gather, and disseminate opinions and information has no place in a democracy. Freedom of expression and access to information both online and offline are foundational to prosperous and secure democratic societies.
“We support Nigeria as it works towards unity, peace, and prosperity. As its partner, we call on the government to respect its citizens’ right to freedom of expression by reversing this suspension.”
