According to the state-owned News Agency of Nigeria, the Nigerian government is “closely monitoring” Twitter following its takeover by billionaire Elon Musk. According to the report, Information Minister Lai Mohammed stated that the government will not allow any social media platform to plunge the country into crisis.
In January, Twitter agreed to register in Nigeria and pay local taxes in order to lift a seven-month ban imposed by the government after it was accused of siding with secessionists.
On Thursday, the minister expressed concern about “what will become of our agreement with Twitter in light of the change in ownership.”
He is quoted as saying:
Quote Message: We are closely monitoring the evolving developments at Twitter. It has never been our intention to ban any social media platform or stifle free speech. Not at all. But we will also not sit by and allow any platform whatsoever to throw our nation into crisis.”
The minister also stated that he and the government were actively participating on Facebook, Twitter, and Google (which owns YouTube), according to the news agency.