On the morning of Thursday, August 1, 2024, Angel Alphonsus, a Social Media Manager for a Lagos-based Marketing Organization, attempted to log into her company’s account to schedule posts. Instead of the usual swift access, she was met with a spinning wheel of frustration. There was an internet downtime.
“I initially thought it was a minor network glitch,” Angel recounted. “But after trying repeatedly and seeing that I couldn’t even load images properly, I realized the issue was widespread. By the time I checked social media on my phone, I saw that others were having the same problem.”
The problem Angel and millions of other Nigerians faced was not just a minor glitch. It was a widespread internet slowdown that crippled productivity across the country, especially for remote workers whose roles depend heavily on stable internet connectivity.
The Internet Downtime: A Nationwide Problem
Nigeria’s internet infrastructure, already strained under the weight of an ever-growing online population, suffered a significant blow during a period of nationwide protests against economic hardships. The protests, fueled by dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s policies, coincided with the network slowdown, leading to a perfect storm of digital disruption.
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) reported that monthly internet usage had skyrocketed from 125,149.86 terabytes in December 2019 to 753,388.77 TB by March 2024, reflecting the country’s increasing reliance on the internet for both personal and professional purposes. However, the protests and the resulting internet downtime exposed the vulnerabilities in this growing digital dependency.
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How Different Roles Were Affected
1. Social Media Manager: The Daily Grind Halted
For Angel, the five-day internet downtime was a disaster. Her role as a Social Media Manager with XDeputy revolves around constant interaction with her brand’s followers, planning and executing campaigns, and monitoring analytics in real-time. The internet slowdown meant she couldn’t schedule posts, respond to customer inquiries, or keep up with the fast-paced social media environment.
“Social media thrives on immediacy,” she explained. “A delay of even a few minutes can cost you engagement. Now imagine what happens when you’re unable to post or respond for days. We lost followers, and our engagement metrics took a nosedive.”
2. Scrum Master: Coordinating a Distributed Team
In Abuja, Emeka Okeke, a Scrum Master for a software development team, struggled to maintain his team’s momentum. His job is to facilitate communication between team members, ensure that projects stay on track, and remove any roadblocks to productivity. Normally, Emeka uses the tool DrogoAI to keep everyone connected, but the internet downtime made the tool nearly inaccessible.
“Without reliable internet, our daily stand-ups were chaotic,” Emeka said. “We had to resort to phone calls, which were inefficient and didn’t allow us to share screens or documents easily. The whole team was out of sync, and we missed several key deadlines as a result.”
3. Onboarding Specialist: A Rough Start for New Employees
Chinelo Adewumi, an Onboarding Specialist for a multinational firm, found herself in an equally challenging position. Chinelo’s job involves guiding new employees through the onboarding process, which includes virtual training sessions, setting up accounts, and ensuring that they have access to the necessary resources. The internet slowdown brought this process to a grinding halt.
“Onboarding is the first impression new hires get of our company,” Chinelo explained. “When I couldn’t conduct training sessions or help them access the necessary tools, it made us look unprofessional. Some of the new hires expressed frustration, and I’m worried it might affect their long-term perception of the company.”
4. Head of Operations: Managing Crisis Upon Crisis
For Bayo Olawale, the Head of Operations at a logistics firm, the downtime was more than just a technical issue—it was a crisis. Bayo’s role involves overseeing daily operations, coordinating with various departments, and ensuring that deliveries are made on time. With the internet down, communication lines were severely disrupted, and tracking shipments became nearly impossible.
“Operations don’t stop because the internet is down,” Bayo noted. “But our ability to manage them effectively does. We had several shipments delayed because we couldn’t communicate with our drivers or track their progress. The downtime cost us a lot in terms of both money and reputation.”
5. Videographer: Creativity Stifled by Connectivity Issues
Ayo Balogun, a freelance Videographer, was working on a tight deadline to deliver a promotional video for a client. Normally, he would upload his raw footage to the cloud, collaborate with editors remotely, and deliver the final product within days. However, the internet slowdown made it nearly impossible for him to upload large files or communicate with his team effectively.
“I was stuck,” Ayo lamented. “I couldn’t upload my footage, and the client was growing impatient. We ended up missing the deadline, and I had to offer a discount to make up for the delay. It was a huge setback.”
6. Content Writer: Words Unwritten
Lastly, Adaobi Nwafor, a Content Writer for a tech blog, faced her own set of challenges. Her role involves researching topics, writing articles, and publishing them online. With the internet down, her access to research materials was severely limited, and she struggled to meet her content calendar deadlines.
“I rely heavily on the internet for research,” Adaobi said. “Without it, I couldn’t write effectively. Even when I managed to finish an article, uploading it to our website was a nightmare. The downtime threw off my entire schedule, and I’m still trying to catch up.”
The Broader Implications
The five-day internet downtime not only disrupted the daily lives of millions of Nigerians but also highlighted the fragility of the country’s digital infrastructure. With more businesses and professionals relying on remote work, stable internet connectivity has become as essential as electricity. The downtime served as a stark reminder that Nigeria’s digital economy is vulnerable, and that even a short-term disruption can have far-reaching consequences.
Economic Losses
The economic impact of the downtime was significant. According to estimates from industry experts, the five-day disruption could have cost the Nigerian economy billions in lost productivity. Businesses that rely on online sales, digital marketing, and remote work were particularly hard hit, with many reporting substantial revenue losses.
A Wake-Up Call for Infrastructure Development
The internet downtime has sparked renewed calls for investment in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure. The country’s internet speeds, already lagging behind global averages, are often cited as a barrier to economic growth. The downtime exposed the need for more resilient infrastructure, including better fibre-optic networks and more reliable backup systems.
Conclusion
The five-day internet downtime in Nigeria was a stark reminder of the country’s digital vulnerabilities. For remote workers like Tobi Adeoye, Emeka Okeke, Chinelo Adewumi, Bayo Olawale, Ayo Balogun, and Adaobi Nwafor, the downtime was not just an inconvenience—it was a major disruption to their livelihoods. As Nigeria continues to embrace digital transformation, ensuring the reliability and resilience of its internet infrastructure will be crucial to supporting the productivity of its growing remote workforce.