Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the 2021 suspension of Twitter in Nigeria was based purely on national security concerns and the need to regulate online platforms that were being used to “destabilise the country.” He made the remarks during an interview, while discussing his new book, Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration.
Mohammed explained that the suspension was one of the toughest decisions taken under the Buhari administration, but insisted it was necessary due to the rise of harmful activities spreading on the platform. According to him, the move was never connected to Twitter’s deletion of a tweet by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
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He noted that he had consistently warned about the dangers of unregulated digital platforms, stressing that misinformation, fake news, and online mobilisation posed real threats if left unchecked. Mohammed said his long-standing advocacy for social media regulation was aimed at protecting national stability while maintaining freedom of expression.
The former minister also defended the administration’s handling of digital narratives during the EndSARS period, stating that his pushback against misinformation, including his criticism of CNN’s reporting, was part of government efforts to keep control of the information space.
Mohammed added that managing digital communication, countering online misinformation, and engaging media stakeholders were key parts of his role throughout his eight years in office.
