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Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama Defends Twitter Ban, Denies Knowledge of Talks With China to Build Firewall

by Eric Olander
File image of Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama. PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP

Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama spoke out in defense of the government’s decision last week to ban Twitter, claiming the move was intended to protect the country’s sovereignty and national security. The Foreign Minister made the remarks during a press conference that followed closed-door meetings on the issue with  U.S. and European representatives.

The Foreign Minister was also asked about a report published over the weekend by the independent Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) that claimed Ibrahim Gambari, chief of staff to the President, and Information Minister Lai Mohammed both met with officials from the Cyberspace Administration of China on Saturday, less than 24 hours after the Nigerian ban went into effect.

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