The envoys of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and the European Union in Nigeria, on Monday, insisted that the suspension of Twitter in the West African nation is a violation of freedom of expression.

The ambassadors stated this at a meeting with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in Abuja today.

The minister had invited the ambassadors to the meeting over their recent comments on the suspension of the microblogging site in Nigeria.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that in a joint statement on Saturday, Canada, EU, UK, US, and the Republic of Ireland said banning systems of expression is not the way forward.

The statement partly read, “The diplomatic missions of Canada, the European Union (Delegation to Nigeria), the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America convey our disappointment over the Government of Nigeria’s announcement suspending #Twitter and proposing registration requirements for other social media.

“We strongly support the fundamental human right of free expression and access to information as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria as around the world and these rights apply online as well as offline.

“Banning systems of expression is not the answer. These measures inhibit access to information and commerce at precisely the moment when Nigeria needs to foster inclusive dialogue and expression of opinions, as well as share vital information in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

https://punchng.com/us-uk-eu-envoys-meet-fg-insist-twitter-ban-violates-freedo

ALSO

The foreign envoys invited by the Nigerian government for discussions on the suspension of Twitter have restated their position for free and open internet that ensures freedom of expression to citizens.

These foreign mission in Nigeria had earlier given their reactions to the directives to suspend Twitter’s use in the country.

Mary Leonard, the Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, on behalf of the delegates maintained that free access to the internet and ability to express oneself is very important and especially in troubled times.

“We have to be very clear that we are Nigeria’s strong partners on issues of security and we recognise the daunting task on the issues of security that confronts Nigeria,” Ms Leonard said, “While they are daunting, they are not insurmountable, and part of the way you surmount them is with the partnership of the people you see represented here.

Ms Leonard said the U.S. and other partners would continue to engage with Nigeria to uphold human rights and the rule of la[/b]w. She noted that while they recognise irresponsible social media use, they “remain firm in our position that free access to the ability to express self is very important and perhaps more important in troubled times,’’

Ms Leonard added that the incitement and violence referred to by the foreign minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, were crimes the Nigerian government [b]has legitimate right to pursue through due judicial processes.

Mr Onyeama had mentioned that the suspension of Twitter is in the interest of national security and peace as President Muhammadu Buhari is keen on ensuring the peace and security of Nigerians and Nigeria.

“We believe as a democracy, that there must be the right to life, the right to property ownership and we believe in human rights and freedom of speech, but social media has to be used responsibly,” he said to the press.

The deliberations were held in Abuja on Monday, after the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.

On Saturday, Attorney General Abubakar Malami had threatened that the government would prosecute anyone found accessing Twitter after its suspension, though the legal implications of this decision is unclear as individuals cannot be prosecuted under laws that are unwritten and there are no legal provisions in existence criminalising the use of Twitter.

https://gazettengr.com/free-access-to-twitter-is-sacrosanct-foreign-envoys/?utm_source=ReviveOldPost&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ReviveOldPost

To hell.

Golan007:
To hell.

See you

When the same federal government was begging for ventilators for COVID19 from Elon Musk using the same Twitter platform and these countries, Why not saying “to hell”?

When the Federal Government was requesting for debt reliefs and aid from these nations, why not posting “to hell”?

Now the same nations do not buy the foolish reasons for muting the voice of the citizens you have the effrontery to post that that

Who else noticed that nairaland has censored that godforsaken app from that cow, Adamu Garbage, crow.we?

Nobody takes this useless government serious

What any normal human being will say

Buhari will end up in Hague

Buhari is a terrorist

Sanction of this shithole Loading.....

What did you expect

They should reject the supporter of APC government led by the Fulani herder, Muhammadu Buhari. He's only interested in banning freedom of expression while turning blind eye to the havoc and killings perpetrated by his brothers In arms, Fulani militia herdsmen.

Officialgarri:
They can board the next flight and go back to their country.

We are in 2021 and will not tolerate Neo-colonialism especially under the governance of a man who has balls.
Don't come and dictate to us how to run our country. We do not need your help except when it comes to bilateral relations.

Your sense has been used just the same way Yahoo boys used females. Shioor!

Obviously, this is one battle that the Buhari administration may never win

I'm telling u, half of this effort should go to our economy and to insecurity, maybe 1$ could have been 150 by now

Officialgarri:
They can board the next flight and go back to their country.

We are in 2021 and will not tolerate Neo-colonialism especially under the governance of a man who has balls.
Don't come and dictate to us how to run our country. We do not need your help except when it comes to bilateral relations.

Who do you this thing?

Officialgarri:
They can board the next flight and go back to their country.

We are in 2021 and will not tolerate Neo-colonialism especially under the governance of a man who has balls.
Don't come and dictate to us how to run our country. We do not need your help except when it comes to bilateral relations.

Just tell your daddy to use one quarter of this effort toward insecurity...

Na their wahala be that


Watin concern we progressives

Officialgarri:
They can board the next flight and go back to their country.

We are in 2021 and will not tolerate Neo-colonialism especially under the governance of a man who has balls.
Don't come and dictate to us how to run our country. We do not need your help except when it comes to bilateral relations.

You're disgusting, honestly !!!

Officialgarri:
They can board the next flight and go back to their country.

We are in 2021 and will not tolerate Neo-colonialism especially under the governance of a man who has balls.
Don't come and dictate to us how to run our country. We do not need your help except when it comes to bilateral relations.

They are speaking diplomatically. The courtesy accorded them is routine gesture in diplomacy and they didn't confuse it for our request for their approval.
Even they are learning and taking notes so they can tweak their own systems. They didn't tell Africa and Asia or seek input from the rest of the world and Nigeria when they were taking their people off the new terms introduced by Facebook on WhatsApp in order to protect their people's private data.

Ok o

Cow

uptimumOne23:
Na their wahala be that


Watin concern we progressives

See Okpe forming progressive

OnionBandit:
You are wise!

You deserve a trailer load of onions

These whites can be very stewpid, aswearugad

You are their boys, you do what they say or they fvck you up.

Officialgarri:
They can board the next flight and go back to their country.

We are in 2021 and will not tolerate Neo-colonialism especially under the governance of a man who has balls.
Don't come and dictate to us how to run our country. We do not need your help except when it comes to bilateral relations.

China isn't using google, WhatsApp, facebook, twitter in their country, yet there's no fuss about it. Nobody is accusing them of freedom of information
Even Russia won't allow you use VPN to access all the banned sites, yet they are still existing and getting stronger.

But these westerners see us as a little child and wants to flex their power on us, yet some efulefus and flat headed idiots are being used to sustain their agenda.

The proposals are part of the U.K. government's bid to force tech giants to rid their platforms of illegal and toxic content.
Companies that fail to comply will face fines of up to £18 million of 10% of their annual global revenues, whichever is higher.
British media watchdog Ofcom would also be able to block non-compliant services from being accessed in the U.K.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/15/uk-online-harms-bill-tech-giants-face-big-fines-and-blocked-sites.html

Well said.

These colonialists are all hypocrites looking out fr their own selfish interests.'

The UK already drafted a law to fine and ban Twitter if they don't obey their social media rules and policies..

It's like saying we can fine and ban Twitter for violating our rules, but you can not because you are Africans.

They know their way to the airport.

#NigeriaFirst.

plaindealer:






Well said.

These colonialists are all hypocrites looking out fr their own selfish interests.'

The UK already drafted a law to fine and ban Twitter if they don't obey their social media rules and policies..

It's like saying we can fine and ban Twitter for violating our rules, but you can not because you are Africans.

They know their way to the airport.

#NigeriaFirst.

You are their servants, you must to what they say or they fvuck you up.

Vaughanlanrewaj:

They are speaking diplomatically. The courtesy accorded them is routine gesture in diplomacy and they didn't confuse it for our request for their approval.
Even they are learning and taking notes so they can tweak their own systems. They didn't tell Africa and Asia or seek input from the rest of the world and Nigeria when they were taking their people off the new terms introduced by Facebook on WhatsApp in order to protect their people's private data.

The proposals are part of the U.K. government's bid to force tech giants to rid their platforms of illegal and toxic content.
Companies that fail to comply will face fines of up to £18 million of 10% of their annual global revenues, whichever is higher.
British media watchdog Ofcom would also be able to block non-compliant services from being accessed in the U.K.


https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/15/uk-online-harms-bill-tech-giants-face-big-fines-and-blocked-sites.html

They are saying we white folks can ban Twitter for violations, but you black Africans can not.

They need to take a seat or STFU.

plaindealer:







They are saying we white folks can ban Twitter for violations, but you black Africans can not.

They need to take a seat or STFU.

Because you are their SLAVES !

SavagesWillLose:


You are their servants, you must to what they say or they fvuck you up.

Well, we are not so they say, twitter is still banned in Nigeria.

Twitter is a common social media platform and it's beneath Nigeria as a sovereign Nation, not the other way around.