Why is Twitter banned in Nigeria?
Nigeria: Protesters demonstrate against SARS in Lagos  top stories direct to your inbox SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Tensions between Twitter and Nigeria escalated this week after the country took steps to ban the platform. Days before the ban came into force Twitter removed a tweet made by Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, claiming it breached its rules regarding abusive behaviour. In retaliation, Nigeria has opted to make it impossible to access the site from within the country. The Nigerian Government said it has indefinitely suspended Twitters operations in the country. The Minister of Information and Culture issued a statement on Friday banning the social media platform. The statement read: The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria. Mobile phone networks also blocked access to the social media platform. The move came after Twitter deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari for breaching the sites rules. Some users saw his post, which referred to Nigeria's civil war four decades ago, as a veiled threat towards a secessionist movement in the south-east of the country. The Nigerian Government said the tweets removal was disappointing. The Government said: There has been a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real-world violent consequences. The Nigerian Government has toyed with the idea of regulating social media sites since the current administration came into office in 2015. Deleting the presidents tweet was seen as the final straw. Why is Twitter banned in Nigeria: Mobile phone networks also blocked the social media platform  In a statement, Twitter said it is deeply concerned by the blocking of Twitter in Nigeria. The statement read: Access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential human right in modern society. We will work to restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world. Twitter said it removed the tweet from President Buhari because it violated the companys abusive behaviour policy. The tweet in question referenced the civil war in Nigerias Biafra region during the late 1960s. [ANALYSIS]  Why is Twitter banned in Nigeria: Twitter said it is 'deeply concerned' about the ban  READ MORE Brexit trade bonanza: UK eying 'absolutely huge' Nigeria deal In the wake of the ban, many Nigerians took other avenues to access the site. The country's main opposition party described the move as "unwarranted" and "pushing Nigerians to the wall." Thank God for VPN started trending on Twitter as many Nigerians celebrated being able to circumvent the ban through the use of a virtual private network (VPN). The move has incited condemnation from around the globe, with many countries, including Britain, calling on authorities to lift the ban. Why is Twitter banned in Nigeria: Many Nigerians used VPNs to access the site  Trending