ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to critically analyze the impact of twitter’s ban on government transparency and accountability using Twitter users in Ikeja, Lagos State as a case study. Specifically, the study investigated the importance of social media for government transparency, examine the extent of government transparency through the Twitter platform before the ban, and determine whether the current Twitter ban will have an impact on citizens' perceptions of the government's transparency and accountability. The study employed the survey descriptive research design. Questionnaire was used for data collection which was raised against a four Likert scale of Strongly Agree(SA), Agree(A), Strongly Disagree(SD) and Disagree(D), and was analysed using the frequency tables and percentage. A total of 266 respondents were conveniently selected as sample size comprising of Twitter Users in Ikeja, Lagos state. Out of the 266 respondents, 259 responses were received and validated from the survey. The study adopted the Uses and gratification theory (UGT). From the responses obtained and analysed, the findings revealed that Nigeria's Twitter ban does have a negative impact on citizens' perceptions of government transparency. Furthermore, there is a significant relationship between the Twitter ban and government accountability. On the basis of these findings, it was recommended that Nigeria being a democratic nation, that, the government therefore should know that transparency and accountability is one of the sole role of democracy in the country. Social media is one of the major platform where the happenings in the country is been communicated to the populace via different news channels and individuals. The government of Nigeria should therefore, uphold the doctrines of democracy by lifting the ban on Twitter usage and grant citizens access to free information flow.