Abuja – The House of Representatives has rejected the motion to lift the suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.
P.M News reports that the lower legislative chamber made its decision on Thursday, July 1, while considering the report of its Committees on Information, ICT, Intelligence, Justice, and Orientation.
It would be recalled that the House ordered an investigation around the circumstances of the suspension by the Nigerian government.
Toby Okechukwu, the deputy minority leader of the House considering the report, suggested an amendment to one of the recommendations, Vanguard reports.
Though Okechukwu’s motion was formally supported by another member, the majority of the House rejected it when put to the vote.
Federal government suspends Twitter’s operations in Nigeria
Back in early June, the federal government 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, June 4.
The minister citied the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
Lai Mohammed speaks about new app to replace Twitter in Nigeria
Earlier, Nigeria’s minister of information and culture, urged Nigerians to develop a microblogging application that will replace Twitter in the country.
Mohammed made the statement on Wednesday, June 23, when he appeared before a House of Representatives committee in Abuja to defend the decision of the federal government to suspend the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.
He advised Nigerians to take advantage of the ban on Twitter to develop their own app which will be patronised by citizens.
Femi Gbajabiamila discloses why social media must be regulated
Meanwhile, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has backed calls for the regulation of social media.
Gbajabiamila said the regulation must be imposed to prevent the evil of social media from taking root in the country.
He made the statement on Sunday, June 27, during a chat with young Nigerians, adding that everything in life needs regulation.
MSN/Africa
