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Nigerian business tycoon and philanthropist, Honourable Chief Mmerigwo Henry Iyke also referred to as Onwa na ala Uli has described the Twitter ban by the Federal Government as a fruitless decision.
Hon. Henry Iyke made this known while reacting to the lifting of the ban after 222 days, saying the ban affected largely small businesses of many Nigerians.
The Microblogging platform was suspended in Nigeria on June 5, 2021, two days after it deleted a tweet by the President. Telecommunication companies had blocked access to Twitter after receiving a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission to that effect.
Since June, the Federal Government and Twitter representatives have been negotiating over several vital issues, including Twitter’s registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission and opening a physical office in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari government had on Wednesday, 12th January 2022 announced that following an agreement on certain terms, the seven-month-old ban on Twitter operation in Nigeria has been lifted.
According to the business mogul, the government’s action should not have happened in the first place, as many small businesses in Nigeria especially among youths rely on the platform to make ends needs.
The founder of theIfenalaife Foundation further said Nigerians who are already facing challenges can now breathe fresh air.
“The Twitter ban ruined lives and destroyed small businesses. It was needless and unproductive.
“The government did not achieve anything banning Twitter in Nigeria. I honestly hope this never happens again. The Twitter ban was a needless decision. Glad the FG has now lifted the ban, and I hope all the small businesses that lost revenue and opportunities during that period will find creative ways to recover speedily.”
High Chief Henry Iyke Mmerigwo (Onwa Alaife) is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Merimerid International Limited, a Nigerian company offering real estate development, mining exploration, and apartment services.
He also registered his philanthropic and social intervention foundation called Ifenalaife Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization created to help facilitate the value of education in society.
Chief Henry Iyke has helped to reduce the unemployment rate amongst the youth and other social vices through his Youth Empowerment Program and Education Support Program which includes award of scholarships to best brains and indigent pupils and students in the society.
The Foundation also provided palliatives which include 400 bags of rice and 60 cartons of groundnut oil for the community and her neighbours to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
