Lai Mohammed Defends Nigeria's Twitter Suspension for Security

Lai Mohammed, the former Minister of Information and Culture, defended the Nigerian government's decision to suspend Twitter in 2021, asserting that the action was taken to safeguard national security rather than to suppress dissent. Speaking at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, he addressed concerns regarding the suspension's alignment with democratic principles, emphasizing that the government must balance freedom of expression with public interest and national security.

Mohammed stated that the decision was necessary due to the platform being used by groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to incite unrest and threaten national unity. He clarified that the suspension was temporary, aimed at allowing the government to engage with Twitter officials and implement reforms, rather than a permanent ban.

Mohammed also noted the rapid evolution of digital communication and the challenges it poses to governance, while highlighting the participation of younger leaders in Nigeria's political landscape.