Business
TikTok creators, business owners protest planned ban of app, say it threatens lives, livelihoods
TikTok creators, business owners protest planned ban of app, say it threatens lives, livelihoods
Small business owners, community advocates and educators have spoken against the US House’s overwhelming approval of a proposal to ban a popular app, TikTok.
The Washington Post reports that many content creators among others protested outside the Capitol on Wednesday March 13 after the House approved the proposal.
Contributing about $14.7 billion in revenue for small-business owners last year and $24.2 billion to US Gross Domestic Product, educators, activists, small business owners and young people who use TikTok argue that the app plays an increasingly crucial role in the national economy and American public life.
“Banning TikTok would shut down a lot of small businesses, including mine,” said Brandon Hurst, 30, a Los Angeles plant shop owner who credits the app with boosting lackluster sales. “These representatives and senators don’t understand that what they’re doing won’t just harm people they call ‘content creators.’ It would hurt small businesses.”
Dozens of TikTok supporters gathered outside the Capitol on Wednesday to oppose the measure, which passed the House with overwhelming support but faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.
Among them was Gigi Gonzalez, a financial educator from Chicago who said a TikTok ban would destroy her financially.
“It would get rid of my biggest source of revenue,” said Gonzalez, 34, who said she earns her living largely through brand deals on TikTok, speaking gigs she secures through TikTok and digital courses that she sells through TikTok. Before TikTok, Gonzalez said she mostly tried to reach people through webinars, which drew sparse attendance. Now, she said, she reaches millions, many of whom buy her courses and books.
“TikTok provides more benefit than harm than any other social media platform,” added Heather DiRocco, an artist and content creator from Montana who makes money by touting products in her videos and through the platform’s creativity program beta, which pays creators based on the number of views they amass on videos over a minute in length.
DiRocco is one of several plaintiffs seeking to overturn Montana’s first-in-the-nation ban on TikTok, which was set to take effect in January but was blocked by a federal judge.
“I could not replicate the money that I make on TikTok through any other platform,” DiRocco said. If a national ban passes Congress and President Biden follows through on his pledge to sign it, she said, “I will lose my biggest platform as a content creator, stripped from me with no recompense or compensation.”
Since rebranding in 2018 under the name TikTok, the app has risen to become one of the most popular social media platforms, with 170 million monthly users in the United States alone.
Hundreds of thousands of content creators make a living on the app, which has skyrocketed artists and influencers such as Lil Nas X, Doja Cat and Charli D’Amelio to overnight fame.
More than seven million American businesses market or sell their products through TikTok, according to the company.
According to a study issued Wednesday by Oxford Economics, a financial consultancy, TikTok drove $14.7 billion in revenue for small-business owners last year and contributed $24.2 billion to US Gross Domestic Product.
The study also found that TikTok supports at least 224,000 American jobs, with the greatest economic impact in California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois.
In addition to its economic impact, TikTok has become a huge educational hub.
Through its #LearnOnTikTok initiative, the company has partnered with more than 800 public figures, publishers, educational institutions and subject matter experts to bring educational material to the app.
TikTok also gives grants to educators and nonprofits that produce educational content.
“Both sides of the aisle know that TikTok is a crucial tool that many — particularly young people — use for education, advocacy and organizing,” said Annie Wu Henry, a digital strategist and content creator.
“It’s incredibly clear, too, that many of these politicians don’t fully understand what the app is that they are trying to ban or even why they are trying to ban it.”
Even as TikTok has become increasingly important economically, it has drawn fire from policymakers in both parties, who have expressed concern about the content being served to users of the app and about its parent company’s ties to China.
On Wednesday, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Tex.) posted to X that “voting against this bill is a vote for the Chinese Communist Party.”
TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew responded to the House vote in a video, calling the result “disappointing” and encouraging the app’s users to speak out against the legislation.
“Over the last few years, we have invested to keep your data safe and our platform free from outside manipulation,” he said.
“We have committed that we will continue to do so. This legislation, if signed into law, will lead to a ban of TikTok in the United States. … It will also take billions of dollars out of the pockets of creators and small businesses.”
Proponents of the House measure claim the bill is not intended to ban the app, though experts say it would function as a ban.
The measure would require TikTok, which is owned by China-based ByteDance, to be sold to a US-based company within 180 days, which many say is unfeasible.
After that period web-hosting services would be prohibited from providing TikTok to the public.
Opponents of the measure are skeptical.
“It’s unrealistic that TikTok’s parent company would be able to sell the app within the US within six months, which is the time period the government mandates under this bill,” said Nora Benavidez, a civil rights and free-speech attorney and senior counsel at Free Press, a nonpartisan organization focused on protecting civil liberties.
“Faced with that likely scenario, the penalties they’d face in the case of such an event would result in TikTok being banned.”
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), who voted against the measure, told a rally of opponents on Tuesday that “any ban on TikTok is not just banning the freedom of expression — you’re literally causing huge harm to our national economy.”
“Small-business owners across the country use TikTok to move our economy forward. Some of these creators and these business owners solely depend on TikTok for their revenue and their job,” Garcia said.
“To rush a process forward that could ban their form of work — particularly young people in this country — is misguided.”
Garcia added that the app is an important connection point for various social groups, including the LGBTQ+ community.
Tiffany Yu, 35, a disability activist in Los Angeles, said banning the app would be especially harmful to disabled people, many of whom have found it to be a lifeline during the isolation of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which is still keeping public spaces off limits to vulnerable people.
“TikTok has been able to help us find each other. Losing TikTok would remove us from that social fabric,” Yu said, adding that TikTok has become an economic lifeline for a group whose “unemployment rates are twice that of our non-disabled peers.”
The House bill would strip “millions of Americans of their rights of freedom of speech, and it’s really not okay,” said Carly Goddard, a content creator who also is a plaintiff in the case against the Montana TikTok ban.
“On TikTok, you see … what is going on in our world,” Goddard said. And “there is more to worry about in our world than banning an app.”
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Auto
Jetour Set to Storm Abuja Show with Rugged Luxury T2
Jetour Set to Storm Abuja Show with Rugged Luxury T2
Abuja is set for a taste of rugged luxury as Jetour Nigeria puts its adventure-ready T2 SUV in the spotlight at the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026, giving motorists in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states an opportunity to test its blend of off-road capability, premium comfort and advanced technology.
The three-day showcase at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, will feature test drives, live demonstrations and direct interaction with Jetour product specialists, offering prospective buyers a closer look at the T2 and other models in the automaker’s growing Nigerian line-up.
Positioned as a premium SUV combining off-road capability with comfort and advanced technology, the Jetour T2 is designed for motorists seeking a vehicle capable of handling both city driving and challenging terrain.
Jetour Nigeria is distributing the T2 and other models via its seven accredited dealers — Elizade Nigeria Limited, New Era AutoVehicle Services Limited, Germaine Auto Centre, Kojo Motors, Mandilas Autos, R.T. Briscoe Motors and Tab Autos Limited.
The T 2 SUV is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 254 horsepower and 390 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and BorgWarner sixth-generation intelligent four-wheel-drive system.
It also features five driving modes — Eco, Sport, Mud, Rock and X Smart — designed to provide improved adaptability across different road and terrain conditions.
Measuring 4,758mm in length, 2,006mm in width and 1,880mm in height, the SUV offers 220mm ground clearance and a 70-litre fuel tank, giving it the capability for extended journeys and off-road adventures.
Inside the cabin, the T2 combines rugged styling with modern comfort, featuring ergonomic seating and a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and intelligent voice control.
Its safety and driver-assistance features include a 360-degree panoramic camera, rear parking sensors, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection, Anti-lock Braking System and Emergency Brake Assist.
The SUV also comes with off-road crawl control as well as push-button and remote-start functions.
The Abuja experience follows Jetour Nigeria’s recent showcase in Lagos as the automaker continues to expand its presence and customer reach across the country.
With its combination of performance, technology, safety and luxury, the Jetour T2 is expected to attract motorists seeking an SUV capable of combining everyday urban mobility with adventure and off-road driving.
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Business
NCAA Moves Against Airlines Over Rising Flight Delays
NCAA Moves Against Airlines Over Rising Flight Delays
Thousands of Nigerian air passengers faced delays in August as domestic airlines struggled to keep to their scheduled flight times.
Now, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says it is taking regulatory steps that could lead to sanctions against airlines responsible for persistent delays.
The regulator’s August data showed that 4,765 of 7,961 scheduled domestic flights were delayed. In other words, nearly 60 per cent of the flights did not leave as scheduled.
Air Peace and United Nigeria Airlines recorded some of the highest delay rates, with 71 per cent and 76 per cent of their flights respectively affected.
NCAA Warns Airlines
NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said that the regulator had already engaged some of the airlines involved.
According to him, the NCAA met with Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines and Max Air and issued stern warnings over their operations.
The authority is now weighing further regulatory measures as the problem continues to affect passengers.
Achimugu also urged travellers to consider other airlines when repeated delays make a particular carrier unreliable.
“When one airline is continuously misbehaving, buy tickets on another airline and make your flight” he said.
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Passenger Rights Put Enforcement Under Spotlight
However, aviation consultant Capt. John Ojikutu believes the recurring problem exposes a wider weakness in the sector.
Ojikutu said Nigeria has regulations intended to protect air travellers, but questioned how consistently those rules are enforced.
“The regulation is there to protect the customer. What is the enforcement?” he said.
He noted that passengers can report violations to the appropriate authorities. But, in his view, regulators must follow up on those complaints with meaningful action.
The aviation expert also recalled experiencing severe delays himself.
He said he once travelled to Abuja and passengers had to board an aircraft three times before another plane was brought in to complete the journey.
The disruption, he said, left him returning to Lagos considerably later than expected.
Are Airlines Planning Their Routes Properly?
Ojikutu also linked the industry’s problems to the way some airlines plan their operations.
He questioned the number of carriers competing on the Lagos-Abuja route, particularly when several airlines operate multiple flights each day.
His argument is that airlines should first establish the level of passenger demand before selecting routes, aircraft sizes and flight frequencies.
According to him, deploying aircraft capable of carrying more than 100 passengers without sufficient demand can put additional financial pressure on an airline.
He therefore advised carriers to consider routes with enough passengers but less competition.
Smaller Aircraft Could Serve Regional Routes
Ojikutu said the industry could also learn from the operational model used by the former Nigerian Airways.
He recalled that the airline used larger aircraft on major routes while smaller planes connected regional destinations to major airports.
He suggested that modern carriers could adopt a similar approach by connecting cities such as Sokoto, Kaduna, Jos and Minna to larger aviation hubs.
Rather than having every airline compete directly on major routes, he said carriers could develop regional networks that feed passengers into bigger airports.
He also called for more airlines to establish bases outside Lagos.
According to him, encouraging operations in other parts of the country could reduce the heavy concentration of airlines in Lagos and create stronger regional connections.
Concern Over Airline Survival
Ojikutu further questioned the short lifespan of many Nigerian airlines.
He attributed part of the problem to weak business planning and argued that airlines should present credible, sustainable plans before receiving regulatory approval to operate.
The latest development therefore puts both airlines and the aviation regulator under scrutiny, as passengers continue to deal with delays despite existing rules designed to protect them.
NCAA Moves Against Airlines Over Rising Flight Delays
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Business
Fuel Prices Climb to ₦1,500 per Litre Across Nigeria, Sparking Calls for Urgent Action
Fuel Prices Climb to ₦1,500 per Litre Across Nigeria, Sparking Calls for Urgent Action
Workers’ unions and fuel sellers appeal to the government to protect families from soaring transportation and food costs.
Fuel stations across Nigeria have raised the price of petrol to as high as ₦1,500 per litre, creating fresh financial strain for working people, small business operators, and families. Across cities such as Kano, Maiduguri, Damaturu, and Sokoto, drivers and commercial riders now pay higher rates at the pump, while stations in central and southern communities also report steady increases.
Because transportation costs directly influence the price of everyday essentials, bus drivers and tricycle operators have raised passenger fares to cover their fuel bills. As a result, parents and commuters face steeper daily travel expenses and rising grocery bills.
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To address this pressure, the Nigeria Labour Congress urged federal authorities to step in quickly with practical relief measures. These proposals include providing cost-of-living allowances to workers, ensuring local refineries can purchase crude oil directly in local currency, and using surplus oil earnings to keep pump prices affordable.
At the same time, fuel sellers warned that pump prices could rise even further if international oil markets remain volatile. Retail associations noted that recent wholesale adjustments from local refineries have increased costs for station owners, who must pay more to restock their tanks.
To keep fuel affordable for the general public, union leaders and station operators are encouraging the government to reduce shipping and regulatory fees, helping ensure that reliable energy remains accessible to every community across the country.
Fuel Prices Climb to ₦1,500 per Litre Across Nigeria, Sparking Calls for Urgent Action
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