How Nigerian Govt Shut Down Over 13 Million Social Media Accounts Across Major Platforms

The Nigerian government has revealed how more than 13 million social media accounts were removed across platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X, and others, following massive violations of the country's Code of Practice for online platforms.

According to the Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report, a staggering 13,597,057 Social Media accounts were shut down in Nigeria over offensive content, harmful activities, and breaches of platform rules and regulations.

The report, jointly issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), was submitted by promoters of interactive computer service platforms such as Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.

NITDA's spokesperson, Hadiza Umar, confirmed in a Wednesday statement that the platforms took down a total of 58,909,112 offensive contents in 2024, highlighting efforts to curb harmful online activities.

The report further disclosed that:

754,629 complaints were lodged by Nigerian users over harmful or offensive content.

420,439 pieces of content were removed and later reinstated following user appeals.

Global tech firms including Google, Microsoft, and TikTok were commended for complying with Nigeria's Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries.

NITDA stressed that the compliance reports provide crucial insight into ongoing efforts to protect users:

"The submission of these reports marks a significant step towards fostering a safer and responsible digital environment for Nigerian users. We remain committed to working with industry players, civil society, and regulatory partners to further strengthen user safety measures, enhance digital literacy, and promote trust and transparency in Nigeria's digital ecosystem.ÔÇØ

The mass removal of accounts is regarded as one of the largest digital crackdowns in Nigeria's history and signals a tougher stance on online safety and harmful content.