U.S. To Buhari: You Can’t Solve Insecurity By Blocking Open Conversation

The United States government has reacted to the Nigerian government’s ban on Twitter, saying open conversation plays a great role in the life of a nation.

In a statement on Saturday, the U.S. advised the President Muhammadu Buhari administration not to see critical opinions as a threat but as a tool for greater unity and prosperity.

“As President Biden has stated, our need for individual expression, open public conversation, and accountability has never been greater.

“The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less communication, alongside concerted efforts toward unity, peace, and prosperity,” the statement partly read.

THE WHISTLER earlier reported that amid Twitter’s deletion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s “civil war” tweet on Monday, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed directed that the platform be banned.

On Saturday, many Nigerians who use Twitter for business and career-related matters could not operate the app.

But the U.S. government argued that such ban will scare investors away from the country.

“Nigeria’s constitution provides for freedom of expression. The Government’s recent #Twitter ban undermines Nigerians’ ability to exercise this fundamental freedom and sends a poor message to its citizens, investors and businesses.

“Banning social media and curbing every citizen’s ability to seek, receive, and impart information undermines fundamental freedoms,” it stated.

However, the presidency claimed on Saturday that Buhari’s tweet, “was not a threat, but a statement of fact,” adding that, “A terrorist organisation (IPOB) poses a significant threat to the safety and security of Nigerian citizens.”