Telcos Enforce Suspension Of Twitter By Nigerian Government
ALTON says it will fully comply with directives to suspend access to twitter following an NCC directive.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), says it had received and complied with government directives to suspend access to Twitter from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry regulator.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, June 5, 2021, Gbenga Adebayo, the President of ALTON, said he wishes to confirm that its members had received formal instructions from NCC to suspend access to Twitter in connection with Friday’s indefinite suspension of the platform.
“ALTON has also conducted a robust assessment of the request in accordance with internationally accepted principles,” Adebayo said.
“Based on national interest provisions in the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and within the licence terms under which the industry operates; our members have acted in compliance with the directives of NCC.”
“We will continue to engage all relevant authorities and stakeholders and will act as may be further directed by the NCC.”
He further pledged the association’s continued support to the government of Nigeria and upholding the rights of citizens.
Adding that ALTON also endorsed the position of the United Nations that the rights held by people offline must also be protected online which includes respecting and protecting the rights of all people to communicate, to share information unhindered and responsibly, and to enjoy unhinged privacy and security regarding their data and their use of digital communications.
As of July 2020, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said the active users of telecommunications services in the country stood at 199 million.
The new figure was an increase from 184 million subscribers reported the previous year which represented about 7.5 per cent increase in total subscription within the period under review.
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