The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, has denied media reports quoting him as giving conditions for lifting the suspension of Twitter Operations in Nigeria.
ON Monday, the minister held talks with some envoys of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union. Mr. Oyenma had said that “Twitter’s operations in Nigeria will be restored only if the platform can be used responsibly”.
However, Ferdinand Nwonye, the spokesperson for the ministry said the “Minister has been quoted out of context.”
In a statement released on Monday shortly after the meeting to clarify the Minister’s comments, the statement reads;
“The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to misleading reports by several media outlets published today, June 7, 2021, in which the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, was misquoted as giving conditions for lifting the Twitter suspension.
“The Minister, after a meeting with some Heads of Diplomatic Missions resident in Nigeria, was quoted to have said that Twitter’s operations in Nigeria will be restored only if the platform can be used responsibly.
“This statement by the Minister has been quoted out of context.
“Contrary to the publications, the Minister was speaking about the responsibilities that go with freedom of speech, stating that platforms that have the power to instantly disseminate information among billions of people have the added responsibility to exercise that power responsibly.
“The ministry wishes to state categorically that the Minister did not give any conditions regarding lifting the Twitter suspension.”