Continued TwitterBan: “Nigeria is losing millions daily” Tonye Anyanwu

Tonye ‘Crypto Genie’ Anyanwu has reacted to the continued indefinite suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, by the federal government.

Social media application Twitter found itself on the wrong side of the Nigerian government sometime in June when it removed a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari talking about the country’s troubled security situation. A tweet that the bird app deemed inappropriate.

Subsequently, Nigeria’s Minister of information, Lai Mohammed, on Friday, 4th of June, 2021 announced the indefinite suspension of the bird social media app, Twitter citing the “persistent use of the platform for activities that undermine the security of the country and its corporate existence”.

Twitter’s suspension elicited a wave of reactions from public figures, entertainers, celebrities and prominent personalities in Nigeria and the diaspora who make use of the social media platform as a communication, business or creative tool.

Reacting to the continued ban, Dubai based entrepreneur, tech guru, crypto expert and philanthropist, Tonye said the decision has especially affected the Nigerian youth, citizens and who rely on the app for current news and information, and also businesses that rely on the app. With the suspension of Twitter, Nigeria joins China, Iran, and North Korea as countries that currently prohibit the use of the app by its citizens.

In his words; “Nigeria and her citizens are the ones losing out because it is costing us economically in terms of new investment into its start up and technology sector. It is threatening Nigeria’s status as one of the best-performing African countries in attracting investment for technology start-up businesses”.

The suspension has already created a market access gap for millions of small and medium scale enterprises that use the platform to reach and interact with their customers. Besides, the ban is already complicating the challenges being imposed by COVID-19 and other structural challenges on businesses.

Anyanwu is of the opinion that the continued ban is compounding the security problems in the country as the platform is the only means via which some people get daily updates on current and happening events. He pleaded with the government to reconsider the ban and lift the suspension. “This government needs to be in touch with the plight of the youth and not act like they are out of touch with the various challenges they face,” he added.

According to NetBlocks, a watchdog organisation that monitors cyber-security and governance of the Internet, each hour of the continued suspension of the social media costs Nigeria about $250,000 (N102.5 million), bringing the daily loss to N2.5 billion.

Tonye Anyanwu also known as the ‘Crypto Genie’ is an award-winning philanthropist, tech enthusiast, investor, and serial entrepreneur. He is the CEO & Founder of technology solutions company, Connectopia Tech LLC. He is also the Founder of Kamal Smart Real Estate and Chief Technical Officer of TOWR Portal, the mobile app platform that allows users to book towing services, vehicle transport and various other automobile services.