FG Orders All Broadcast Stations to Go Off Twitter with Immediate Effect

By Izunna Okafor

As part of the mechanisms to ensure full implementation of the recent Twitter Ban in Nigeria, the Federal Government has ordered all broadcast stations in the country to go off Twitter with immediate effect.

The Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Armstong Idachaba, made this known in a memo issued to stations across the country.

According to the directive contained in the memo, all television and radio stations in the country are to de-install Twitter and desist from using it as a source of news.

A part of the memo reads, “Consequent on the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria by the Federal Government over the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining the corporate existence of Nigeria, the National Broadcasting Commission directs all Broadcasting Stations in Nigeria to suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately."

The memo also quoted section 2(1) of the NBC Act, which entrusts the Commission with responsibility to ensure strict adherence to the national laws, rules and regulations to back up his directive.

“Also, section 3.11.2  of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code provides that “the broadcaster shall ensure that law enforcement is upheld at all times in a matter depicting that law and order are socially superior to or more desirable than Crime and Anarchy,” it adds.

The memo equally drew the broadcasters’ attention to section 5.6.3. of the code which requires them to be mindful of materials that may cause disaffection, incite to panic or rift in the society in the use of a User Generated Content (UGC).

Idachaba, in the memo, also opined that it would be unpatriotic for any broadcaster in Nigeria to continue to patronise the banned social media platform, Twitter, as a source of its information, and enjoined the broadcast stations to ensure strict compliance to the Federal Government's order.