The ban on microblogging platform, Twitter, in Nigeria may have cost the nation a whopping N247.61 billion.
Recall that the Federal Government had, on June 4, 2021, suspended Twitter after the social media platform deleted a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Consequently, telcoms operators, on June 5, blocked access to Twitter after receiving a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
On this, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria had said, “We, The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria wish to confirm that our members have received formal instructions from the Nigerian Communications Commission, the industry regulator, to suspend access to Twitter.
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“ALTON has conducted a robust assessment of the directive in accordance with internationally accepted principles.”
According to the NetBlocks Cost of Shutdown Tool, the blockade costs Nigeria’s economy N103.17 million ($250,600) every hour.
It has been 2,400 hours since the FG banned Twitter.
Not long ago, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Federal Government was close to an agreement with Twitter and would soon lift the ban.
Nigeria is a member of an exclusive list of countries such as China, Iran, and North Korea where Twitter is banned. Since the ban, the use of Virtual Private Networks has risen.
