According to the minister, Twitter was banned because it was used as a tool to cause disunity in the country.

“Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture has opened up on why microblogging site, Twitter operations were suspended in the country.

Receiving the United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Akunna Cook in his office in Abuja on Thursday February 17, the Minister said the social media platform’s operation was suspended in the country after it became a platform of choice for those who are working for the disunity of this country.

Lai Mohammed further revealed that the Federal Government’s engagement with Twitter has been fruitful.

He said;

“Twitter was suspended because it became a platform of choice for those who are working for the disunity of this country,” he said.

“This is a country of 200 ethnic groups, very multi-religious and there is a lot of forth lines that Twitter was exploiting.

“Before the suspension, there were a lot of notices and warnings. I am glad to say that our engagement with Twitter has been very productive and useful for both parties. The outcome of that engagement is going to help us not just in our engagement with Twitter, but in engagement with all social media platforms.”

Also listing some of the strategic interventions from the Nigerian Government in the Creative Industry including the N22.9 billion Central Bank of Nigeria Creative Industry Financing Initiatives; the N1 billion Bank of Industry Nollyfund; another N1 billion Bank of Industry Fashion and Beauty Fund; N-Power Creative and Project Act Nollywood Federal Grant, the Minister maintained that the Nigerian government is working hard to reposition the creative and culture industry, which has been badly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, because of the immense contribution of the sector to the nation’s GDP.

Lai Mohammed also called for more collaboration between Nigeria and the United States in repositioning the nation’s creative and culture industry, especially in improving the quality of Nollywood movies.

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