Twitter Ban: Nigeria Loses N499.29bn As Suspension Hits 200 Days

Nigeria Loses N499.29bn As Twitter Ban Hits 200 Days

Following the suspension placed on the microblogging site, Twitter by the Federal government on June 4, 2021, the Nigerian economy has incurred a N499.29bn loss.

According to the NetBlocks Cost of Shutdown Tool, Nigeria’s economy loses N104.02m ($250,600) every hour to the ban on Twitter. It has been 4,800 hours (200 days) since the social networking site was blocked.

The Federal Government on June 4 announced the suspension of Twitter after the social media platform deleted a tweet by President Buhari. The suspension came with a directive to telecommunication companies to block access to Twitter for their subscribers.

While giving his Independence Day speech, Buhari hinted that the ban would continue until Twitter registered in Nigeria, had a physical presence, and representation. Recently, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, said Twitter had agreed to the nation’s conditions for the suspension to be lifted.