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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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Tupac’s killer found guilty after 30 years

Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been found guilty in Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder after trial testimony also raised an alleged payment involving Diddy. A Las Vegas jury has found Duane “Keffe D” Davis guilty of first-degree murder in the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, delivering the first conviction in one of hip-hop’s most notorious unsolved cases, nearly 30 years after the shooting.

Jurors took less than three hours to reach their verdict following a nearly two-week trial, convicting the 63-year-old former Compton gang leader of murder with a deadly weapon, with intent to promote, further or assist a criminal gang. Davis was not accused of pulling the trigger himself.

Prosecutors argued he was the “shot caller” who handed the murder weapon to the gunman, believed to be his nephew, Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson, seeking revenge after Shakur’s entourage assaulted Anderson earlier that night. Under Nevada law, someone who facilitates a murder can be convicted of the crime itself.

Beyond the verdict, testimony during the trial surfaced a detail that has drawn far less attention than the conviction itself: an alleged connection to Sean “Diddy” Combs. According to testimony reported by Rolling Stone, Combs allegedly arranged for money to be passed to Davis through an intermediary named Zip Martin, reportedly intended as payment tied to the killing.

The arrangement reportedly fell apart when Martin, in poor health at the time, never followed through on meeting Davis as investigators had hoped. Combs, now serving a 50-month sentence following his 2025 conviction on prostitution-related transportation charges, has consistently denied any involvement in Shakur’s death, and no charges have been filed against him in connection with this testimony.

Prosecutors built much of their case on Davis’s own past statements, including admissions made in police interviews and details from a memoir he authored, in which he described handing his nephew the gun used in the shooting.

Davis did not testify in his own defence. His attorney, Michael Sanft, argued throughout the trial that Davis fabricated or exaggerated his account for money and notoriety, telling jurors that investigators failed to independently verify his claims.

Judge Carli Kierny ordered Davis held without bail ahead of sentencing, scheduled for October 13, where he faces a possible life sentence without parole. After the verdict was read, Davis calmly asked the court for his personal belongings, including his phone and laptop, and indicated he intends to appeal the conviction.

The verdict lands just two weeks before the anniversary of Shakur’s death on September 13, giving his family a name and now a conviction attached to the killing they’ve waited nearly three decades for.

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Nathaniel Bassey shocked after Pastor Jerry Eze surprises him with birthday car

Gospel singer and minister Nathaniel Bassey has expressed shock after pastor Jerry Eze surprised him with a car as a birthday gift. Nathaniel Bassey shared a video of the moment he received the car, with the singer repeatedly asking who had sent him the gift.

Accompanying the video was a heartfelt message in which Bassey described himself as speechless after the surprise. Bassey revealed that although he usually keeps gestures like this private, he decided to share the surprise with his followers.

He explained that Pastor Jerry had secretly worked with his wife to get the car for him without his knowledge.

“Normally I keep things like this private, but not this one. I want to share this.
Woke up yesterday just desiring a nice, easy day of gratitude to God. Unknown to me, my brother and friend @realjerryeze had this holy coup ongoing with my wife.


In truth, the surpriser had been surprised. Still don’t know how to really express this in words.
He insisted on going for the very best when my wife suggested one to get. In his words, “My brother can’t drive that”

The gospel minister also revealed that Pastor Jerry plans to make similar gestures for other people.

“Pastor Jerry, not only has he done this for me. I know of a couple of other ones like this He is currently planning. The man gives like his life depends on it.
And I’m here to publicly say THANK YOU, PJ (pastor Jerry) – You know, even if you never do this, I’d still love you the same.
Thank you, Sir. Like I told you, I am speechless.”

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Entertainment

Reconciliation with ex-husband Churchill helped women restore broken relationships-Tonto Dikeh

Actress Tonto Dikeh has revealed how her reconciliation with her ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill, inspired her to help at least 10 women restore broken relationships with the fathers of their children. Dikeh shared this while urging single mothers to let go of hurt and embrace forgiveness for their own peace and healing.

According to the actress, her reconciliation with Churchill prompted several women in similar situations to reach out to her for guidance on how she overcame the pain of their decade-long dispute.

Ever since my reconciliation with my ex-husband, hundreds of women have reached out asking the same question: How did you learn to forgive?

While I couldn’t reply to everyone, I reached out to those whose pain mirrored my own. Today, to the glory of God, at least 10 women have been reconciled, restoring peace, healing hearts, and stepping into healthy co-parenting. God has truly turned my personal story into a tool for restoration.

If you are carrying bitterness today, please hear this: Forgiveness is never for the person who hurt you; it is for you. It is the key to moving your life forward. God will not inflict pain on others just because we are hurting,” she explained

Dikeh added that women who struggle with broken relationships should trust God rather than remain trapped in bitterness.

“True closure doesn’t come from people; it comes from God. He promises to restore the years that the cankerworm has eaten. Not just days or weeks, but years. Every tear you’ve shed and every year spent in pain will be turned into a powerful testimony.”

Dikeh’s message comes months after she announced the end of her long-running feud with Churchill, the father of her son, King Andre.

The former couple got married in 2015, but their marriage collapsed less than two years later. Their separation became a highly publicised dispute, with both parties involved in several accusations and public exchanges. Their disagreements also extended to issues around their son, with custody and co-parenting becoming part of the conflict. After years of hostility, Dikeh announced in January 2026 that she and Churchill had reconciled.

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