Due to the Twitter ban imposed by the Federal Government, it has been reported that Nigeria has lost N24.72bn.
Recall on the 5th June, Nigeria placed a ban on the microblogging app in Nigeria after the site took down a tweet posted on the President’s handle.
According to NetBlocks Cost of Shutdown Tool, an international Internet monitor, Nigeria loses N102.9m ($250,600) every hour to the ban.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, Ayoola Olukanni, while commenting on the ban 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.”
