Nigerian mobile network operators (MNOs) say they have suspended access to Twitter, the micro-blogging platform, in Nigeria following a formal request from the nation’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
A statement jointly signed by the president of the Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, and its executive secretary, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo and Gbolahan Awonuga respectively, this morning, stated that ALTON has conducted a robust assessment of the request in accordance with internationally accepted principles.
“We, The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) wish to confirm that our members have received formal instructions from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry regulator to suspend access to Twitter.
“Based on national interest provisions in the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and within the licence terms under which the industry operates; our members have acted in compliance with the directives of the Nigerian Communications Commisison (NCC) the industry regulator.
We will continue to engage all the relevant authorities and stakeholders and will act as may be further directed by the NCC. We remain committed to supporting the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and upholding the rights of citizens.
“As an industry, we endorse the position of the United Nations that the rights held by people offline must also be protected online. This includes respecting and protecting the rights of all people to communicate, to share information freely and responsibly, and to enjoy privacy and security regarding their data and their use of digital communications,” the statement read.
Yesterday, the Nigerian government placed an indefinite suspension on the operations of micro-blogging platform, Twitter in Nigeria as the row between the two parties escalates.
“The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria,” the Federal Ministry of Information an
