BREAKING: Nigerian telcos block access to Twitter after order from NCC

BREAKING: Nigerian telcos block access to Twitter after order from NCC

Telecommunications services provider in Nigeria said they block access to Twitter in the country after receiving order from the federal government to do so.

According to the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) in a press statement sent to Business Metrics by 1 am on Saturday, the formal instruction was issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the country’s telecoms regulator.

ALTON has conducted a robust assessment of the request in accordance with internationally accepted principles, according to the statement so-signed by Gbenga Adebayo, its chairman and Gbolahan Awonuga, its executive secretary.

Based on national interest provisions in the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and within the licence terms under which the industry operates; ALTON said its members have acted in compliance with the directives of the NCC.

The statement read: “We will continue to engage all the relevant authorities and stakeholders and will act as may be further directed by the NCC.

“We remain committed to supporting the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and upholding the rights of citizens.

“As an industry, we endorse the position of the United Nations that the rights held by people offline must also be protected online. This includes respecting and protecting the rights of all people to communicate, to share information freely and responsibly, and to enjoy privacy and security regarding their data and their use of digital communications.”