BREAKING: NBC To License All Social Media ‘Operations’ In Nigeria — Lai Mohammed
The National Broadcasting Commission will immediately begin the process of licensing all social media businesses in Nigeria, according to Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed. All radio and television stations in Nigeria are regulated by the NBC.
The minister made the announcement shortly after announcing that the Federal Government has also suspended Twitter, a popular microblogging network used by Nigerian youngsters, the elite, and the middle class.
Following Twitter’s removal of a ‘civil war’ message by Nigerian President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), which the social media giant claimed violated its regulations, the government took action.
Nigerians also use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube, among other social media platforms.
The minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Adeyemi, said in a statement on Friday that the policy takes effect immediately.
However, as at the time of posting this story, our correspondent’s investigations revealed that Twitter is still operational in Nigeria, with users having access to the platform. The minister’s statement also didn’t say when the ban would go into effect.
The statement titled, ‘FG Suspends Twitter’s Operations in Nigeria’, read, “The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.
“The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
“The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.”
The Senate is now debating the Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Protection Act of 2019, sometimes known as the anti-social media bill.
It aims to make it illegal to use social media to spread incorrect or malicious information. Senator Mohammed Musa, a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress, was the bill’s sponsor.
