Nigeria Will Lose N2.18bn Daily To Twitter Suspension — Report

Nigeria will lose N2.18 billion per day for blocking the
operations of Twitter, a micro-blogging and social networking
platform, in the country, an estimation by NetBlocks has shown.

NetBlocks, a data-driven online service, estimated the economic
cost of internet disruptions on its cost of shutdown tool (COST)
platform.

The platform, built on Brookings Institution and CIPESA
methodologies, estimates the economic cost of internet shutdowns,
mobile data blackouts, and social media restrictions using public
economic indicators relating to the global digital economy.

On Friday, the federal government announced the “indefinite”
suspension of Twitter over “the persistent use of the platform for
activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate
existence”.

On Saturday morning, network access to the Twitter platform and
backend servers were blocked by MTN, Globacom, Airtel, 9mobile, and
other networks — the development made Nigerians move to alternative
means of accessing the micro-blogging site.

Checks on the
COST^[1] platform
show that a single-day total internet shutdown will cost the
country about N48.6 billion in economic value relating to the
global digital economy.

According to the data, if Nigeria shuts down WhatsApp, Facebook,
Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, it will lose N10.9 billion
daily.

Although it is not yet sure the number of days the shutdown will
take, the impact on businesses, tech communities, civil space, and
government-to-citizen communication disruptions are enormous,
according to experts.

Paradigm Initiative, in a statement, described the blockage of
Twitter as an abuse of the rights of Nigerians, not just to freedom
of expression but many other rights guaranteed in the 1999
Constitution (as amended), the African Charter on Human and
People’s Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.

“This suspension, which is a reaction of the Nigerian government
to the company’s enforcement of its platform rules, is aimed at
insulating the government from criticism, especially by Nigeria’s
youth who are over 70% of the country’s population,” the digital
rights group said.

“It is evident that shutting down Twitter is illegal and
illegitimate policies such as this are unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, the Buhari-led government has described the
suspension as “temporary”.

A statement issued by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, noted
that the suspension of Twitter is not just a response to the
removal of the Buhari’s post, but to address the “litany of
problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where
misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real-world
violent consequences.”

The statement added that Twitter had escaped accountability for
misinformation spread on the platform.

Meanwhile, the United States mission in Nigeria, as well as
other local and foreign organisations have cautioned the federal
government on the suspension.

Nigeria will lose N2.18 billion per day for blocking the
operations of Twitter, a micro-blogging and social networking
platform, in the country, an estimation by NetBlocks has shown.

NetBlocks, a data-driven online service, estimated the economic
cost of internet disruptions on its cost of shutdown tool (COST)
platform.

The platform, built on Brookings Institution and CIPESA
methodologies, estimates the economic cost of internet shutdowns,
mobile data blackouts, and social media restrictions using public
economic indicators relating to the global digital economy.

On Friday, the federal government announced the “indefinite”
suspension of Twitter over “the persistent use of the platform for
activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate
existence”.

On Saturday morning, network access to the Twitter platform and
backend servers were blocked by MTN, Globacom, Airtel, 9mobile, and
other networks — the development made Nigerians move to alternative
means of accessing the micro-blogging site.

Checks on the
COST^[1] platform
show that a single-day total internet shutdown will cost the
country about N48.6 billion in economic value relating to the
global digital economy.

According to the data, if Nigeria shuts down WhatsApp, Facebook,
Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, it will lose N10.9 billion
daily.

Although it is not yet sure the number of days the shutdown will
take, the impact on businesses, tech communities, civil space, and
government-to-citizen communication disruptions are enormous,
according to experts.

Paradigm Initiative, in a statement, described the blockage of
Twitter as an abuse of the rights of Nigerians, not just to freedom
of expression but many other rights guaranteed in the 1999
Constitution (as amended), the African Charter on Human and
People’s Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.

“This suspension, which is a reaction of the Nigerian government
to the company’s enforcement of its platform rules, is aimed at
insulating the government from criticism, especially by Nigeria’s
youth who are over 70% of the country’s population,” the digital
rights group said.

“It is evident that shutting down Twitter is illegal and
illegitimate policies such as this are unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, the Buhari-led government has described the
suspension as “temporary”.

A statement issued by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, noted
that the suspension of Twitter is not just a response to the
removal of the Buhari’s post, but to address the “litany of
problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where
misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real-world
violent consequences.”

The statement added that Twitter had escaped accountability for
misinformation spread on the platform.

Meanwhile, the United States mission in Nigeria, as well as
other local and foreign organisations have cautioned the federal
government on the suspension.