Nigerian Govt Shuts Down Over 13 Million Social Media Accounts for Offensive Content

2 weeks ago 7

Government reports removal of 13,597,057 accounts across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Over 58 million offensive contents taken down, with 754,629 complaints recorded.
Regulators commend Google, Microsoft, TikTok for compliance with Nigeria’s Code of Practice 2024.

The Nigerian government has shut down more than 13 million social media accounts following violations of the Code of Practice for interactive platforms.

According to the Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report, a total of 13,597,057 accounts were removed from major platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X for offensive content and breaches of guidelines.

The report, submitted by promoters of interactive service platforms such as Google, Microsoft, and TikTok, detailed wide-ranging actions against online harms. It noted that 58,909,112 offensive contents were taken down within the reporting period, while 754,629 registered complaints were received.

The spokesperson for the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mrs Hadiza Umar, said 420,439 contents were restored after appeals by users. She explained that the compliance reports “provide valuable insights into the platforms’ efforts to address user safety concerns in line with the Code of Practice and the platforms’ community guidelines.”

The Code of Practice was jointly issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NITDA, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to regulate digital platforms and strengthen accountability.

Mrs Umar added that the submission of the reports “marks a significant step towards fostering a safer and responsible digital environment for Nigerian users,” stressing the agency’s continued commitment to user safety, digital literacy, and transparency.