The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Nigerians not to use a virtual private network, otherwise known as VPN, to access Twitter banned under President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.

APC is Mr Buhari’s political party which controls the federal government and most states in Nigeria.

In the wake of the Twitter ban, Peoples Gazettes provided an explainer on accessing the microblogging platform and avoiding any landmines associated with using a VPN.

The party in a statement issued by John Akpanudoedehe, the National Secretary of its Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), on Tuesday in Abuja, warned Nigerians about the dangers inherent in using a VPN.

According to APC, VPN is vulnerable to the heinous activities of criminal hackers, who could steal data and monies in bank accounts.

The statement said, ”The APC warns legitimate private and public entities operating in the country to avoid the many dangers of exposing themselves to cybercrimes through the use of VPN, which is not adequately secured.”

”This advisory is necessary,” the ruling APC pointed out, “because despite the massive compliance by Nigerians to the federal government’s suspension of Twitter operations in the country, some individuals in the country have resorted to VPN to assess (sic) Twitter, whose unwholesome activities are detrimental to the peace and public order in the country.” 

Nigeria’s justice minister Abubakar Malami, The Gazette reported, was one of the high-ranking officials of Mr Buhari’s regime who recently accessed Twitter via a VPN.

APC urged those using VPNs to desist in their own interests to avoid data theft, illegal access to strategic company documents, and possible economic espionage.

The party added, ”Your record can be traced to another country that is not yours, with all the risks that entail.

”Many individuals and organisations using VPN have lost their investments after compromising the security of their devices.

”This is in our individual and collective interest.” 

(NAN)