He condemned “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence,” according to a statement.
Officials did not provide further details. In a related development, Facebook has announced it will suspend former US President Donald Trump from the platform for at least two more years, the highest penalty possible under its new content moderation rules announced Friday.
Trump will not be allowed to use Facebook or Instagram for two years, effective from the date of his initial suspension on January 7 of this year, following his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
If Trump continues to be a “serious risk” to public safety, his suspension could continue past two years, until the risk has receded, Facebook said in a press release Friday.
After the suspension is lifted, Trump will be bound by “a strict set of rapidly escalating sanctions that will be triggered if Mr. Trump commits further violations in the future, up to and including permanent removal of his pages and accounts,” Facebook said.
On Wednesday, Twitter removed a post by Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, that threatened punishment for people he described as insurrectionists in the nation’s southeast that authorities have blamed for attacks on federal properties and infrastructures. especially offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War,” wrote Buhari, a retired general, referring to the 1967-70 conflict. “Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”
The social media platform said Buhari’s tweet violated its “abusive behavior” policy, removed the post and suspended his account for 12 hours.
Twitter is massively popular in Nigeria. Activists have harnessed the platform to fuel major protest movements in recent years, and government criticism is rampant.
Shortly after the announcement, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, which spread the news, saw it’s own Twitter account flooded with replies. Many users blasted the irony.
“Using @twitter to announced the suspension of its operation in Nigeria on its platform. Are you alright???” wrote one user.