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Nigerian Government Lifts Twitter Ban, Nigerians React!

After 7 months of suspended use, the Nigerian government on Wednesday the 12th of January announced that it had lifted the ban on the micro-blogging platform, Twitter effective from Thursday the 13th of January, 12 AM.

The government said that Twitter had agreed to all of her terms and conditions hence its decision to restore its activities in the country.

The head of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi broke the news in a statement saying;

“Twitter has agreed to act with a respectful acknowledgment of Nigerian laws and the national culture and history on which such legislation has been built and work with the FGN [federal government of Nigeria] and the broader industry to develop a code of conduct in line with global best practices, applicable in almost all developed countries.”

Among the list of the government’s demands, Twitter agreed to open a local office in the first quarter of 2022, get registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and comply with applicable tax obligations on its operations under Nigerian law, as well as appoint a designated country representative to interface with Nigerian authorities.

The government said that Twitter also agreed to give the government the right to take down any tweet it considers a threat to the nation’s peace and security.

Twitter responded to the suspension of the ban in a tweet promising its commitment to driving civic participation. The Twitter post read;

We are pleased that Twitter has been restored for everyone in Nigeria. Our mission in Nigeria and around the world is to serve the public conversation.

We are deeply committed to Nigeria, where Twitter is used by people for commerce, cultural engagement, and civic participation.

We’re committed to integrating diverse perspectives that make our service better for everyone.

The Nigerian government had placed a ban on the micro-blogging platform in June of 2021 after Twitter took down a tweet by the president issuing a violent threat to South-East secessionists following an attack on public property. The government said the ban was placed because of its “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.

Read Also: READ President Buhari’s Letter Refusing Assent to Electoral Act Amendment Bill

The ban was condemned by angered Nigerians as well as diplomats from the EU, UK, Ireland, Norway, and Canada who said the ban undermined the freedom of expression of citizens as well as sent a wrong message to investors. Consequently, the ban cost Nigerian businesses billions of naira.

Nigerians, including opposition politicians, continued to use the platform form, accessing it with the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Following the lift of the ban, many Nigerians expressed relief, and in typical Nigerian style, with a dose of humor. Amid the relief and humor, Nigerians did not fail to recognize the obvious fact that the government’s decision to lift the ban was connected to the forthcoming elections. The current ruling APC harnessed the power of social media influence to install the current President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“With elections a little over a year away, the current ruling party, which ascended to the national stage largely on the back of a successful social media campaign, understands how vital Twitter remains as a public square for accessing, and more importantly, influencing the perspectives of Nigerians.cIt is in that sense that the Twitter ban must be assessed,” said Ikemesit Effiong head of research at SBM Intelligence, a political risk analysis firm in Lagos during an interview with Al Jazeera.

Here are some reactions on the Twitter ban

 

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Wole Soyinka Reveals He’s Been Banned from Entering the United States

Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinka says the U.S. has withdrawn his visa and requested its physical cancellation in Lagos. Wole Soyinka said on Tuesday that the United States had revoked his non-immigrant visa issued last year, and that he had been informed he must reapply should he wish to visit the U.S. again.

The 91-year-old writer had torn up his U.S. green card and renounced his American residency in 2016 in protest of the election of President Donald Trump. The Nobel laureate has held regular teaching appointments at American Ivy League universities since the mid-1990s, following his Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986.

“The moment they announce his victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up,” Soyinka had said.

On Tuesday, Soyinka presented reporters with a letter from the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos requesting that he bring in his passport for the physical cancellation of his visa.

The letter, dated 23 October, stated that “additional information became available” after the visa had been issued. The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“I have no visa; I am obviously banned from the United States, and if you want to see me, you know where to find me,” Soyinka said, addressing those who might have planned to invite him to events in the U.S.

In July, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced that Nigerians applying for non-immigrant visas would now receive single-entry, three-month permits, rolling back the previous policy that had allowed multiple-entry, up to 5-year visas.

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“I Feel Sorry for Men with One Wife” – Ned Nwoko Has No Regrets After Marrying 4 Wives

Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North, has finally opened up about his marriage to Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, addressing weeks of speculation, accusations, and viral clips that set social media on fire.

The businessman and politician not only defended his controversial polygamous lifestyle but also denied claims that he had been violent towards his wife.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Sunday, the politician addressed the marital crisis with his actress wife, Regina Daniels, directly.

He made astonishing claims about the merits of multiple marriages and firmly rejected the explosive allegations of domestic violence.

In his own words, Ned painted himself as a man who has been misunderstood, while standing firmly by his tradition and choices.

Senator Nwoko was asked about the status of his marriage with his youngest wife, Regina Daniels, following the disturbing video of a 25-year-old Nollywood actress that went viral.
A teary clip showed the actress crying and saying she couldn’t “stand the violence anymore.” In the footage, she was heard lamenting, “In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing. But in my own house, I am a Queen.”

The video triggered outrage across social media, with many Nigerians accusing the lawmaker of domestic abuse. However, Senator Nwoko firmly rejected the claim, saying the story was false and that he had never raised a hand on any of his wives.

In his usual calm but confident tone, Senator Nwoko also spoke openly about being a proud polygamist, calling it both a blessing and a cultural duty.

The 64-year-old Senator expressed sympathy, or perhaps pity, for men in monogamous marriages: “I feel sorry for those who have one wife,” he said.

He argued that having multiple wives offers men greater stability and balance, using a striking, easy-to-understand analogy: “Just imagine standing on one leg — it’s difficult. But with two, three, or four, you’re more balanced. That’s the example I give.”

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NCC, CBN’s move to end failed airtime, data transactions

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have joined forces to introduce a unified framework aimed at curbing failed airtime recharges and data transactions on electronic platforms.

The initiative, announced last week, seeks to enforce accountability among telecom operators, payment processors, and financial institutions, ensuring that millions of subscribers get timely redress for failed or incomplete transactions.

The Centre for Digital Justice and Consumer Rights (CDJCR) has applauded the move, describing it as a landmark in consumer protection. In a statement on Monday, October 20, 2025, the group’s Executive Director, Dr Kenechukwu Opara, said the collaboration between the two regulators was long overdue.

“For far too long, consumers have borne the brunt of system failures that are neither their fault nor within their control,” Opara said.

Opara noted that failed recharges and data purchases are among the most frequent complaints by telecom users, with many left stranded due to delayed or unresolved reversals. The new framework, he said, would protect millions of Nigerians who rely on mobile platforms for daily microtransactions.

Consumers are not just users; they are the backbone of the telecom and financial systems. By ensuring that customers get full value for every recharge and data purchase, the NCC is not only protecting rights but also deepening trust in Nigeria’s cashless and digital inclusion policies,” he added.

The CDJCR praised the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, for prioritising consumer welfare and for pushing a proactive regulatory agenda.

While commending the regulators, Opara urged them to go a step further by enforcing clear timelines, transparent processes, and strict sanctions against operators who fall short of agreed standards.

“We encourage both regulators to publish the service level expectations for all stakeholders — telecom operators, payment processors, and financial institutions — so that consumers know who to hold accountable when transactions fail,” he said.

The group also applauded the CBN for embedding consumer rights in its financial protection framework, especially for low-income Nigerians who depend heavily on digital services for daily payments.

Beyond telecoms, Opara argued that the NCC–CBN partnership should become a model for other sectors where technology, finance, and service delivery intersect.

“This kind of inter-agency collaboration shows that government institutions can truly work in the interest of citizens. What matters now is strict compliance and constant review of the framework to adapt to new technologies and emerging consumer issues,” he said.

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