The Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) has appealed to Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari to to create an enabling environment that supports global technology companies.
The Director-General of LCCI, Chinyere Almona, while commenting on the ban of Twitter last year June and subsequent lifting of the ban last week by the Buhari led federal government, argued that creating enabling environment for global tech companies will boost the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
“When an enabling environment is created for the tech companies to thrive, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and revenue mobilisation will receive a boost through tax revenues from these companies,” she said.
The LCCI DG noted that the Information and Communications Technology sector in Nigeria is one of the growth drivers in the economy even as the country see additional activities of digital platforms adding more potential to the sector.
Quoting Netblock’s Cost of Shutdown Tool, she disclosed that Nigerian businesses lost N10.72 trillion ($26.1billion) within 222 days the government shut down Twitter operations across Nigeria.
“In business terms, the cost of the seven-month shutdown of Twitter operations in Nigeria is estimated to be N10.72 trillion (26.1billion dollars),” she said.
According to her, Twitter is a viable tool for businesses in Nigeria, adding that the lifting of the suspension on their operations in Nigeria is “well-received and commendable.