ONLINE NEWSPAPER READERSHIP IN THE NORTH EASTERN NIGERIA

The study investigated the readership of online newspaper in the North Eastern Nigeria. Data were collected by means of structuredquestionnaire from one hundred and fifty (150) respondents made up of students, civil servants, private sector workers and petty traders. One hundred and thirty one (131)questionnaires were completed and returned. The study found that majority (78.86%) of the respondents read online newspapers, while minority (21.14%) of the respondents does not read online newspapers. Also majority (53.44%) of the respondents read online newspapers because they are up-to-date, current and cheaper, 21.37% of the respondents read online newspapers because they are up-to-date and another 19.85% of the respondents read online newspapers because they are current, while the least (5.34%) of the respondents read online newspapers because they are cheaper compared to the traditional newspapers. The study also found that majority (34.35%) of the respondents said increase in electricity supply was the likely solution to the problems encountered in the reading of online newspapers. 33.59% of the respondents said provision of more internet facilities was the likely solution to the problems encountered in the reading of online newspapers, while 32.06% of the respondents said upgrading of internet facilities from 2G and 3G to 5G was the likely solution to the problems encountered in the readingof online newspapers. The study among other things recommended that government should provide the needed infrastructure to make internet services available to every Nigerian. The study then concluded that, as a democratic nation, information about government, economy, environment and other aspects of our national life must be made available 24/7 for her citizens. Online newspaper is one of the platforms through which this can be accomplished.