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Telecommunication (Telcos) operators in Nigeria have blocked access to Twitter after the Federal Government slammed an indefinite ban on the microblogging and social media platform on Friday.
The telcos, under the aegis of the Association of LicensedTelecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), in a statement signed by ALTON Chairman and Executive Secretary, Gbenga Adebayo and Gbolahan Awonuga, said there has been a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to block Nigerians from accessing the platform.
“We, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) wish to confirm that our members have received formal instructions from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry regulator to suspend access to Twitter.
“ALTON has conducted a robust assessment of the request in accordance with internationally accepted principles,” the statement said.
Checks by Newspeakonline showed that only Glo mobile has successfully carried out the order. But people using other service providers like MTN or Airtel can still access the Twitter platform.
First lady, Aisha Buhari deactivates account as FG suspends Twitter
Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Friday night, deactivated her Twitter account hours after the government of her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, announced the suspension of the micro-blogging site.
“I will be deactivating my Twitter account for now. Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she tweeted at 11:59pm on Friday.
Minutes later, the account, which had over 1 million followers as of June 4, was no longer available on the social media platform. However, the account of her husband, @MBuhari, was still active at the time.
Mrs Buhari, who is known for her fierce criticisms of her husband’s government, had in the past made some of her dissatisfaction known via Twitter.