Federal Government of Nigeria has cleared the air over the allegation credited to a former Twitter staff that the giant social media platform (Twitter) did not negotiate with Nigerian Government in the wake of the suspension of the microblogging site.
Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who reacted to this allegation at the 13th Edition of PMB Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023) in Abuja on Monday, said there was a long-drawn negotiation between Nigeria and Twitter.
Recall that Twitter was suspended on June 4th 2021 because of its persistent use for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
The Minister explained that seven days after the suspension, precisely on June 11th 2021, the Federal Govt received a letter, addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, from Twitter’s Vice President in charge of Public Policy, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Sinead McSweeney.
“While seeking to meet with us on the Twitter suspension. That letter kick- started a number of activities that culminated in the extensive negotiation. A copy of that letter is displayed on the screens here and will be made available to gentlemen of the press”, he said.
Adding that after the letter, the Federal Government announced its team to discuss with Twitter. “The team, chaired by the Minister of Information and Culture, also comprised the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice.
“Also, Honourable Ministers of Communications and Digital Economy; Foreign Affairs as well as Works and Housing, Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment and the Director- General, National Intelligence Agency”, he said.
Alhaji Mohammed explained further that after the composition of the team, another letter was received from a group, Albright Stonebridge Group, which apparently was working at the behest of Twitter.
“The letter (which is also projected on the screens and is available to the media), named the Twitter team to enter into discussion with Nigeria. The team was headed by Sinead Sweeney, Twitter’s Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, whom I mentioned earlier; Karen White, Senior Director.
“Public Policy, Europe and Sub- Saharan Africa; Ronan Costello, Senior Public Policy Manager, Africa, Europe, Middle East; Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Head of Public Policy, Sub-Saharan Africa; Jim Baker, Deputy General Counsel and Amb Johnnie Carson, Senior Adviser, Albright Stonebridge Group”.
He noted that the back-and-forth negotiation culminated in a series of
agreements that paved the way for the lifting of the Twitter suspension in January this year.
“Gentlemen, with the facts that we
have supplied, you can now see that the fellow who reportedly alleged that Twitter did not negotiate with Nigeria is either being economical with the truth or didn’t understand the workings of the company where he worked”, he said.
