The National Broadcasting Commission(NBC) hasordered all television and radio stations to suspend the use of microblog­ging platform, Twitter.

A statement by its Di­rector-General, Armstrong Idachaba, on Monday said television and radio stations are advised to de-install twitter handles and “desist from using twitter as a source (UGC) of in­formation gathering for news and programmes presentation especially phone-in.”

It would be recalled that the Federal Government on Friday announced a ban on the activi­ties of Twitter after it deleted a controversial post by President Muhammadu Buhari about the civil war, which some Nige­rian users flagged and Twitter said it violated its rules.

The statement by Idachaba read, “Consequent on the sus­pension of Twitter operations in Nigeria by the Federal Gov­ernment over the persistent use of the platform for activi­ties that are capable of under­mining the corporate existence of Nigeria, the National Broad­casting Commission directs all broadcasting stations in Nige­ria to suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately.

“In compliance to the above directive, broadcasting stations are hereby advised to de-install twitter handles and desist from using twitter as a source (UGC) of information gathering for news and programmes pre­sentation especially phone-in.

“Section 2(1) r of the NBC Act entrusts the commission with responsibility to ensure strict adherence to the nation­al laws, rules and regulations. Also, section 3.11.2 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code provides that ‘the broadcaster shall ensure that law enforce­ment is upheld at all times in a matter depicting that law and order are socially superior to or more desirable than crime and anarchy.

“Attention is also drawn to section 5.6.3 of The Code which requires broadcasters to be mindful of materials that may cause disaffection, incite to panic or rift in the society in the use of a user generated content (UGC).

“Note that it will be unpa­triotic for any broadcaster in Nigeria to continue to patro­nise the suspended Twitter as a source of its information therefore strict compliance is enjoined”.

FG Gives Condition For Lifting Twitter Ban

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has given condi­tion under which the ban im­posed on Twitter will be lifted.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, on Friday announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter for alleged undue in­terference.

The action of the Federal Government had sparked out­rage.

Geoffrey Onyeama, Minis­ter of Foreign Affairs, said at a meeting with some envoys over lifting of the Twitter ban that there was no definite timeline but “the condition would be re­sponsible use of the social me­dia and that really has to be it.

“We are not saying that Twitter is threatening the country or any such thing; why we have taken this measure is to stop them to be used as plat­forms for destabilisation and facilitation of criminality or encouragement of criminali­ties,” he said.

At the meeting held in Abu­ja on Monday were the envoys of the US, UK, Canada and the European Union, all of whom had condemned the “indefi­nite” suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.

The minister said the gov­ernment takes the comments of the envoys “very seriously”, hence the decision to discuss the matter with them in the “usual friendly way.”

He, however, insisted that the Buhari administration has to keep an eye on its “main objective and legacy” which, ac­cording to him, is the security of lives and property.

He said Nigeria will not sit back and watch social media being used to “destabilise” the country, adding: “We want to use social media for good.”

“Differences of opinion is not a problem; everybody will not think alike,” Onyeama said.

“But lives matter; Nigerian lives matter and we have to do everything we can to preserve Nigerian lives. And when we feel our goals are threatened, actions need to be taken.”