Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has expressed that the operation of Twitter in the Nigerian social media space “is not legally permissible.”
He stated that Twitter was used to disseminate information that “that endangers the life and security” of Nigerians and cause disunity in the country.
He stated this on Tuesday when he appeared before a house of representatives investigative hearing.
Speaking at the investigative hearing on Tuesday, Mohammed said the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 does not permit foreign companies to do business in Nigeria if not registered.
He said Twitter cannot be given the “legitimate rights” to operate until it is incorporated in Nigeria.
“As it regards that operation of foreign companies in Nigeria, the law provides that a foreign company which fails to take necessary steps to obtain incorporation as a separate entity in Nigeria for that purpose, but until so incorporated, the foreign company shall not carry on business in Nigeria or exercise any powers of a registered company,” he said.
“Hence, flowing from this background a foreign company as Twitter cannot be clothed with the legitimate rights to operate as a company registered in Nigeria, as they are not licensed accordingly.
“Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is also observed that the operations of Twitter in the Nigerian social space is not legally permissible when it is used in airing of information that endangers the life and security of the majority of citizens of Nigeria.
“The principles of law are clear on the exercise of personal human rights in the face of national security threats which affects the larger citizen.”
