Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has revealed the question former President Muhammadu Buhari asked him when the decision to suspend Twitter (now 𝕏) was made in 2021.
He stated that Buhari asked him if he had the capacity to carry out the deed, to which he replied affirmatively.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television on Tuesday, he dismissed claims that the social media platform was banned because it offended the political class.
He maintained that the suspension followed long-standing engagements and unresolved regulatory concerns.
“When we took the decision to suspend the operations of Twitter, the President, God bless his soul, asked me only one question: do I have the capacity to do so? And I said yes.
“I discussed with my colleague, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. But the sole purpose why we suspended the operation of Twitter was because it was becoming reckless,” Mohammed stated.
Nigeria and Twitter reached an agreement in 2022, leading to the restoration of the platform after a 222-day suspension.
As part of the deal, Twitter committed to establishing a legal presence in Nigeria, paying applicable taxes, appointing a country representative and cooperating with the government on content regulation.
While some conditions reportedly took time to fully materialise, the government has maintained that the measures were necessary to protect national interest rather than suppress free expression.