Nigeria is attempting to impose the same restrictions imposed on Twitter on all other social media platforms available in the country.

Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, made the announcement in Cairo during a meeting with his equivalent, Egypt’s Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Dr. Amir Talaat.

In an interview with Talaat, Lai Mohammed said that Nigeria was changing its National Broadcasting Act and Broadcasting Code to ensure that all internet platforms operating in Nigeria meet with prescribed standards, as Twitter had done.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Lai Mohammed stated, “Whatever applies to Twitter will apply to all other social media platforms, be it WhatsApp, Facebook or any other.”

He claimed that Twitter was suspended in Nigeria because it has become the medium of choice for individuals seeking to destabilize the country, sow discord, and inflame the political atmosphere.

People reacted negatively to the move to stop Twitter, but the Nigerian government was confident they were doing the right thing.

He claimed that after 7 months of suspension, Twitter had met the requirements imposed on them and that the Nigerian government had achieved the goal of the suspension.

In relation to the deal signed with Twitter, which the minister stated would apply to other online platforms, Lai Mohammed stated that the microblogging site has promised to create a Nigerian office in the first quarter of 2022.

He stated that Twitter committed to assigning a designated country representative within one month of its suspension being lifted and that its global policy team will also be available to engage directly with the government.

According to the minister, Twitter has promised to comply with all regulatory requirements, including the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Nigeria Communication Commission laws and rules, and National Broadcasting Commission Code.

He said: “Twitter has agreed to comply with all payable taxes as they are operating under the Nigerian laws and this they agreed to do within one week of restoring their operations.

“Twitter agreed to immediately work with the Federal Government in the area of code of conduct which is in line with global best practices.

“Twitter agreed to immediately enroll Nigerians in its Law Enforcement portals and Partners Support Portal.

“The law enforcement portal will provide dedicated channels for the Nigerian law enforcement agencies to escalate reports on contents that violate the code of conduct or the national laws.

“Similarly, the partner support portal provides a direct channel for the government to engage Twitter staff to manage prohibited contents.”