A fresh indication has emerged that the Federal Government is set to lift ban on microblogging giant Twitter.
The Federal Government had on June 4 suspended Twitter after the social media platform deleted a tweet by the President Muhammadu Buhari.
Consequently, telecommunications companies on June 5 blocked access to Twitter after receiving a directive by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.
How much lost to ban
According to the NetBlocks Cost of Shutdown Tool, the blockade costs Nigeria’s economy N103.17m ($250,600) every hour.
It has been more than 2,400 hours since the FG banned Twitter.
In line with the time frame of the suspension, the nation has lost more than N247.61 billion counting.
FG to lift ban
However, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told newsmen that a lot of progress has been made in the ongoing dialogue with Twitter.
“I think even Twitter itself two days ago gave what I will call a progress report on our talks with them, and I think if I want to quote them rightly `it has been productive and quite respectful’.
“And as to the qualifying word for when or how soon, I want to assure you that the time that Twitter operation has been suspended, (I meant) between the time it has been suspended, and when it will be restored is by far, much, much shorter.
“That I can assure you that it is by far in other words, if the operation has been suspended for about 100 days now, I can tell that we’re just actually talking about a few, just a few more days now.”
The minister stressed that both parties were focused on reaching a conclusion on the matter.
“What we’re trying to do is the changes that have been going on, but we need to dot the ‘i’s’ and cross the ‘t’s’, but I can assure us that we’re not unmindful of the anxiety of Nigerians and both parties are working very hard to put a closure on the matter.
“And like Twitter itself said the changes have been very, very productive on both parties. It has not been advisory at all. And it’s quite respectful,’’ he said.
