Nigeria has lifted its ban on Twitter – seven months after clamping down on the social networking site. Nigeria’s government suspended Twitter last June after the company d a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari about punishing regional secessionists.
Authorities accused the social media firm of siding with the secessionists. But the government said it was reversing the ban after Twitter agreed to conditions including opening a local office in Nigeria.
Twitter did not say if it had agreed to the government demands but tweeted that it was pleased to be restored in the country and was deeply committed to Nigeria.
The move allows millions of people in Africa’s most populous nation to use the platform again.
Some users had continued to access the site after the suspension using virtual private networks (VPNs) but most corporate organisations, including many media outfits, had obeyed the government’s order.
Analysts believe the ban has cost the Nigerian economy millions of dollars, especially the small businesses which use the platform to reach their customers.
The move last year by Nigeria’s government sparked international outcry over freedom of speech.
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