Nigeria Shuts Down 13.5 Million Social Media Accounts Over Offensive Contents

The Nigerian government has shut down about 13,597,057 social media accounts for what was described as “offensive contents and violations of the code of practice,” committed by their users. The social media platforms are TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The promoters of interactive computer service platforms such as Google, Microsoft and TikTok, among others, made this known in the Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report submitted to the government.
The Code of Practice was issued jointly by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The 2024 report is titled: ‘Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report Highlights Social Media Platforms’ Efforts on Online Harm Protection’.
In a statement today , August 20, the spokesperson for NITDA, Hadiza Umar, said that a total of 58,909,112 offensive contents were taken down from various platforms.
The government agency commended Google, Microsoft and TikTok for their continued compliance with the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries and noted that 754,629 registered complaints were received.
The NITDA spokesperson said that 420,439 pieces of content were removed and re-uploaded following appeals by users.
“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 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.”