On June 6, 2021, the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria issued out a press release relating to the suspension of microblogging app, Twitter, and why the decision was made. This announcement was conveyed through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and immediately met with angry reactions as users of the app and other social media platforms took to their pages to express their feelings, pointing out their views as to why they collectively feel it was a harsh decision and an undermining to the citizens right of freedom of speech. They also argued the decision to suspend Twitter was the only way the FG could forcefully show authority as it came less than 24 hours after a tweet by the president was taken down due to the violation of some of Twitter’s policies.
NBC orders broadcast stations to suspend twitter handles pic.twitter.com/VIXMtgw6UI
— MediaNaija (@themedianaija) June 7, 2021
Two hundred and twenty two (222) days later, the FG finally lifts the Twitter suspension (or ban) from the country, that is, for 222 days, citizens of the country who used the app (Twitter) had to access it ‘illegally’ or ‘indirectly’ through the use of various Virtual Private Network (VPN) apps. For the records, the Twitter suspension got lifted on the 13th of January, 2022.
This news has resulted in a lot of euphoria and mixed feelings amongst users of Twitter in Nigeria, colloquially known by the collective – Twitter NG. As we know to be a particular custom on the app, memes (pictures and videos) and texts are chosen weapons for Twitter NG to either support or reprove an action. Here are some of the best reactions to the removal of the Twitter ban in Nigeria:
Welcome back to Nigeria everyone. Which country did y’all tweet from during the ban?
— Sam Otigba (@SamuelOtigba) January 13, 2022
people who left after #TwitterBan applying for “forgotten password” pic.twitter.com/j0FRp3129y
— Ralph 😈 (@ralphdeyforyou) January 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/2muchdrag/status/1481544870892351494?t=Aj3Wgwtr14ntTWjrh8YLhg&s=19
… until the president doesn't like something else on Twitter. Then… pic.twitter.com/UckHHWDpmr
— Windscribe (@windscribecom) January 13, 2022
People who have been off Twitter since its ban, coming back like:
pic.twitter.com/qDCoBSYznG— Olumide is a podcast connoisseur (@FreeOlum1d3) January 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/Moe_mrmoe/status/1481409231404384256?t=Aj3Wgwtr14ntTWjrh8YLhg&s=19
https://twitter.com/kingissadd/status/1481547877499428866?t=Aj3Wgwtr14ntTWjrh8YLhg&s=19
Nigerians on Twitter this morning#TwitterBan pic.twitter.com/7i5fAV5Zy1
— Bzingers #BBNaija 𓃵🏐 (@BzingersVine) January 13, 2022
People who left Twitter returning now that the #TwitterBan has been lifted pic.twitter.com/1dKnzsafbY
— DAMOLA 🏀⚽️ ⚾️🔞 (@holardamolar) January 13, 2022
I still can't forget when the #TwitterBan was still fresh & Nigerians went for Adamu Garba's Crowwee on App Store 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/qn3DtPz3I4
— Chief Nomso 👑 (@Odogwu_Nomso) January 13, 2022
Slept in Japan,woke up in Nigeria no be juju be that? pic.twitter.com/pewVWrAP1p
— иυєℓℓ™🦅 (@alhajinuell) January 13, 2022
Well, what can I say? Welcome to a new dispensation! I guess.