Business
Meta’s Exit to Throw 20 million Nigerian MSMEs Out of Business
The Global System for Mobile Communications Association reported that Nigerian MSMEs rely heavily on Facebook and Instagram for sales, customer engagement, and brand visibility.
A Digital Marketing Consultant at EssenceMediacom, Olayinka Shobola, believes that a shutdown of Facebook and Instagram operations in Nigeria would deal a serious blow to Nigeria’s digital economy, especially millions of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The Global System for Mobile Communications Association reported that Nigerian MSMEs rely heavily on Facebook and Instagram for sales, customer engagement, and brand visibility.
“Meta Platforms’ threat to halt operations in Nigeria could devastate 56 percent of the nation’s 39.6 players in the information technology space,” Shobola said, stressing that such an exit would erode tax revenues and force businesses to seek costly alternatives, as a $290 million fine dispute with regulators intensifies.
“Businesses that built their brands on Meta’s platforms would face immediate challenges.
The platforms have become essential tools for business survival and growth in Africa’s largest economy, where SMEs contribute nearly 50 per cent to GDP and represent more than 96 per cent of registered businesses.
“Most likely affected businesses will pivot to platforms like X or TikTok for short-term survival, but long-term, they’ll need to invest in standalone e-commerce or offline channels,” Shobola said.
“Jobs will take a hit; marketers, influencers, and agencies will lose contracts overnight.”
Statista forecasts a $148.2m social media ad market in 2025, with Facebook commanding up to $120m, driven by 38 million ad-reachable users.“My shop practically lives on these platforms, especially Instagram,” Lagos-based baker Fatima Tunde said. “If it’s gone, I’m out of business.”
BLACK MARKET RATES
US Dollar (USD) Buy ₦1,410 Sell ₦1,420
Great British Pound (GBP) Buy ₦1,890 Sell: ₦1,910
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,580 Sell ₦1,605
Canadian Dollar (CAD) Buy ₦1,020 Sell ₦1,080
South African Rand (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
Ghana Cedi (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110
West African CFA Buy ₦2, 300 Sell ₦2, 400
Central African CFA Buy ₦2,150 Sell 2,250
CBN Exchange Rates
US Dollar (USD) ₦1,357. 61
Great British Pound (GBP) ₦1,840.10
EURO (EUR) ₦1,571.70
Swiss Franc (CHF) ₦1,673.58
Chinese Yuan (CNY) ₦201.37
West African CFA (XOF) ₦2. 39
West African Unit Account (WAUA) ₦1,853.65
Saudi Riyal (SAR) ₦361. 59
South African Rand (ZAR) ₦83.85
BLACK MARKET RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1,416 Sell ₦1,423
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,890 Sell: ₦1,910
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,590 Sell ₦1,610
CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,020 Sell ₦1,080
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370 CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦190 Sell ₦205
GHANA CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110
WEST AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 300 Sell ₦2, 400
CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2,150 Sell 2,250
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900
CBN Exchange Rates
US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,357. 65
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,834.04
EURO (EUR) ₦1,567.00
SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,671. 98
JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.53
CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦201. 34
WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2. 39
WEST AFRICAN UNIT ACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,858.02
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦361.62
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦84.23
Business
Traders shut down Enugu ‘s Obollo-Afor market over N25,000 haulage levy
However, Chairman of ESIRS, Emmanuel Nnamani, in a letter to the traders, said the haulage levy was not paid by traders buying or selling goods in the markets, but was applicable strictly to truck drivers plying interstate routes.
All shops and markets at Obollo-Afor, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State were shut yesterday, as traders staged a peaceful protest against alleged selective collection of a N25,000 haulage levy in the market.
The traders, who locked their shops and took to the streets in large numbers, carried placards with various inscriptions, alleging that the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) had singled out Obollo-Afor Market for the collection of N25,000 haulage fee on every truckload of goods loaded or offloaded in the market.
However, Chairman of ESIRS, Emmanuel Nnamani, in a letter to the traders, said the haulage levy was not paid by traders buying or selling goods in the markets, but was applicable strictly to truck drivers plying interstate routes.
Addressing officials of the Udenu Local Government Council at the council secretariat, where the protesters marched to present their grievances, Chairman, Obollo-Afor Market Traders Association, Charles Eze, lamented that truck operators bringing foodstuffs, building materials, and other commodities to the market had stopped coming because of the levy.
Edo House of Assembly Elect New Speaker Idiaye, Hints Why Agbebaku Resign
NDLEA destroys illicit drugs valued at N301bn in Lagos
Pat Utomi Congratulates Adeleke, Says “Voters Can Defeat Rigging”
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
Politics10 hours agoKebbi Governor picks new running mate , Ibrahim Augie
-
Politics2 days ago#OsunDecides2026: First Results Emerge as Voting Ends, Collation Begins at Polling Units
-
Politics2 days ago(UPDATED) #OsunDecides2026: INEC Uploads 3,119 of 3,763 Polling Unit Results as Collation Continues
-
Politics2 days ago#OsunDecides2026: Adeleke Urges Tinubu to Protect Votes During Collation
-
Politics11 hours agoOsun poll: ADC’s Salaam, Tambuwal Hail Adeleke for Second Term Win
-
News8 hours agoEdo Assembly Speaker Agbebaku Resigns Amid Impeachment Plot (Video)
-
Politics1 day ago
BREAKING: INEC declares Adeleke winner of Osun gov poll
-
Business11 hours agoNaira Exchange Rates Monday,17 August