The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari lift federal government’s suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria.
This contained in a statement by its President, Mr Dotun Oladipo and General Secretary, Mr Danlami Nmodu, mni on Monday.
GOCOP observed that Twitter’s suspension is a major setback because online journalism and other businesses rely on the platform for mass circulation and marketing of their businesses.
“We believe this suspension will ruin our businesses and shrink the democratic space.
“Even more, this action will leave many social media handlers who work full time doing legitimate businesses jobless.This will compound the already troubling unemployment situation in the country.
“We believe this action is more injurious to the survival of Nigerian young business entrepreneurs who rely on Twitter.”
According to GOCOP, government’s move IS also a major setback for information dissemination, growth of the media, information technology sectors, among others.
“We note that there are also millions of Nigerians who use Twitter to ventilate their democratic right of freedom of expression responsibly. The suspension clearly shrinks the democratic space.”
It therefore advised Buhari to explore alternative means of relating with Twitter to resolve whatever difference that have arisen.
“Once again, we call on government to lift the order suspending Twitter in Nigeria immediately”, GOCOP said.
