National Security : Lai Mohammed Defends 2021 Twitter Suspension At Cambridge University

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has mounted a vigorous defense of the Federal Government’s 2021 suspension of the social media platform Twitter (now X), asserting that the move was a “painful but necessary” measure to safeguard Nigeria’s national security. Speaking on Thursday at the University of Cambridge, Mohammed maintained that the action was never intended to clamp down on free speech but was a strategic response to the platform being used by groups like the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to incite unrest and destabilize the country.

During his address, the former minister explained that every government must strike a delicate balance between freedom of information and public interest, emphasizing that national security must always take precedence. He revealed his personal concerns at the time regarding the global perception of the move, admitting he feared it would be viewed as a clampdown on dissent. However, he argued that the suspension provided a vital window for engagement with the platform’s officials, which he claims has resulted in a “far more responsible” service that no longer poses a threat to national unity.

Beyond the social media debate, Mohammed addressed the landscape of Nigerian politics, specifically pushing back against the narrative that the country’s leadership is exclusively dominated by the elderly. Citing current governors such as Kogi’s Ahmed Ododo, Ebonyi’s Francis Nwifuru, and Rivers’ Siminalayi Fubara—all of whom are under 60—he argued that many young leaders have successfully navigated the political system. He concluded by cautioning young Nigerians against a sense of “political entitlement,” suggesting that leadership must be earned through local commitment and service rather than academic status or privilege.