Social Media

Nigeria’s Twitter Ban Leaves Some Businesses in the Lurch

Lagos-based entrepreneur Ogechi Egemonu was selling more than 500,000 naira ($1,219) worth of watches, shoes and handbags on Twitter per week.

Now, with the site suspended by the Nigerian government, Egemonu does not know how she will cope.

“Social media is where I eat,” she told Reuters. “I depend on social media for my livelihood.”

Scores of small and medium-sized businesses across Africa’s most populous nation – and largest economy – are reeling from the indefinite suspension of the social media site.

Nigeria announced the suspension on June 4, days after the platform removed a post from President Muhammadu Buhari that threatened to punish regional separatists. Most telecommunications sites have since blocked access.

NOI Polls estimates that 39.6 million Nigerians use Twitter – 20% of them for business advertisement and 18% to look for employment. Experts warn its lack of ready availability – it is accessible using Virtual Private Networks that mask location – could ripple across the economy.

“The ban has significant collateral damage,” said Muda Yusuf, director general of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce, who said that a “sizeable number of citizens” use Twitter to make a living.

REVENUE LOSS

Parliament’s minority caucus warned the suspension was costing Nigerians “billions of naira on a daily basis.”

Dumebi Iyeke, a research analyst with the Financial Derivatives Company, said it would hit young Nigerians – among whom there is a 45% unemployment rate – the hardest.

“We are looking at a potential loss in their revenue,” Iyeke said, adding that it could further lower living standards amid high inflation.

Information Minister Lai Mohammed last week said that all social media sites must register a local entity and get a license to operate. He cited complaints over lost money as proof that the ban was effective, but said other sites are still available.

Samed Olukoya

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

Share
Published by
Samed Olukoya

Recent Posts

N1.3bn Fraud Allegation: Court Orders Arrest of Dana Air MD For Not Showing Up For Arraignment

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of the Managing Director of…

5 hours ago

Nigerians To Enjoy 85% Discount On Groceries, Phones, Home Appliances, Others As Konga Begins Yakata Black Friday Sale

Consumers in Nigeria now have opportunity to get 85 percent discount on products of their…

5 hours ago

Nigeria Partners with ECOWAS and Morocco to Launch $26B African Gas Pipeline

The Nigerian government, in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Morocco,…

6 hours ago

Naira Falls to N1,676.90/$1 at Official Market, Slides to N1,708.87/$1 at Alternative Window

The Naira depreciated at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) by 0.61 percent and…

7 hours ago

President Tinubu Orders Release of Minors Prosecuted for #BadGovernance Protests

Following a recent viral video on the X app regarding the prosecution of minors who…

10 hours ago

Nigerian Army Seizes 700,000 Liters of Stolen Petroleum in Sweeping Raid Across Four States

In a series of raids across Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states, troops from…

10 hours ago