Twitter ban: Nigeria records N24.72bn loss in 10 days
By Modupe Shodeinde
Nigeria has lost N24.72bn ($60.14m) ten days after the Federal Government on June 4, 2021 announced the suspension of Twitter in the country.
According to NetBlocks Cost of Shutdown Tool, Nigeria loses N102.9m ($250,600) every hour to the ban, the PUNCH reports.
The Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, Ayoola Olukanni, when asked about the impact of the ban on businesses in Nigeria said, “Communication is a significant part of sales and marketing in this digital age. Consequently, the Twitter ban will likely impact negatively and disrupt businesses especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises who rely on social media, such as Facebook, Instagram including Twitter to conduct business.
“It will therefore most likely negatively impact the IT sector of the economy which is already facing several other challenges.
“While it may be considered that there are alternative social media platforms, the abrupt nature of the suspension would mean a loss of existing contacts and a cost of migration.
“We must of course also not and cannot, discountenance the national security dimension of the misuse of social media and micro-blogging platforms to inspire violence outside its use to conduct Business.”
In a report by Statista, Nigeria has about 33 million active social media users, with about 26 per cent on Twitter.
Twitter following ban of the microblogging site had reached out to the government to meet for an open discussion to address mutual concerns and see the service restored.
“Today marks one week since Twitter was blocked in Nigeria. We have informed the Nigerian government that we are ready to meet for an open discussion to address mutual concerns and see the service restored.
“We remain advocates for the free and Open Internet everywhere.” the company had tweeted.
