Lai Mohammed: Suspension of Twitter My Harshest Decision

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described the suspension of Twitter, now X on June 5, 2021, over alleged use of the platform for activities that threatened national security and corporate existence, including spreading fake news, as the toughest single decision he took as minister.

He disclosed this yesterday at the Guest Lecturer Series of the University of Abuja Business School.

Mohammed, who spoke about what business leaders can learn from government, said the decision was tough because of the disruption to Nigerian entrepreneurs and influencers, who relied on the platform commercially, in addition to the perception it created about the government’s commitment to freedom of expression.

“But the suspension did not come without provocation, and it did not come without warning. We had engaged consistently with Twitter and with other platforms, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and others, to ensure more responsible use of their platforms in Nigeria.

“Those engagements went largely unanswered. And when Twitter became a vehicle for content that threatened national security and incited violence against the state, we acted. Of course, the suspension was lifted when the platform agreed to register locally, pay taxes and operate responsibly. It achieved its stated objectives,” Mohammed said.

He referenced the communication challenge that came with the decision, stressing the moment the suspension was announced, Nigerian entrepreneurs were worried about their livelihoods, civil society and press freedom advocates were concerned about censorship and international observers and foreign investors were worried about Nigeria’s business environment.

“We learned something important from that experience: when you take an unpopular decision, the instinct of most communication teams is to minimise the explanation, to say as little as possible and hope the controversy dies down quickly. That instinct is almost always wrong. Unpopular decisions demand more communication, not less.

“The silence that follows an unpopular action is not interpreted as dignity or restraint. It is interpreted as guilt. You must explain the why, clearly, repeatedly and from multiple voices, if you want the public to follow your reasoning even when they disagree with your conclusion,” he said.