Nigerian federal government has rolled out new conditions under which top international social media operating in Nigeria would be allowed to carry on.
In the new dispensation, read out to newsmen today, June 9 by the minister of information, Lai Mohammed, the government directed the regulatory body, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commenced the process of licencing them.
The social media affected by the directive are Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Google Hangout and others.
“It may interest you to know that most of the OTT and social media platforms operating in Nigeria do not have any office in Nigeria and do not pay taxes to Nigerian government for the billions they earn here.
“That is not the best practice globally, and that is why we are insisting that for you to operate in Nigeria, you must first be a Nigerian company and be licenced by the broadcasting commission. “Therefore, any OTT or social media platforms operating in Nigeria must do so legally.
“One, register with Corporate affairs Commission, be licenced by National Broadcasting commission and then adhere to the conditions stipulated in their licences.”
Lai Mohammed stressed that in all these “what is important to us is the sovereignty of Nigeria.”
