The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has lamented the Federal Government’s suspension of Twitter which they said is a setback for their operations.
They appealed therefore to President Muhammadu Buhari to rescind his government’s decision to suspend Twitter in Nigeria.
In a statement today, June 7 signed by its President, Dotun Oladipo, and General Secretary, Danlami Nmodu, mni, GOCOP said that online publishing and other businesses rely on the social media 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.
“Also, government’s move is a major setback for information dissemination, growth of the media, information technology sectors among others in Nigeria.
“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.
GOCOP advised the President 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.”
