The Federal Government has deactivated more than 13.5 million social media accounts on platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), citing offensive content and repeated violations of Nigeria’s Code of Practice for Online Platforms.
The action, disclosed in the 2024 Compliance Report on the Code of Practice, was presented by global tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and TikTok, in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
According to the report, a total of 58,909,112 harmful contents were removed across the platforms, while 13,597,057 accounts were permanently shut down for breaching online safety rules. Regulators also received 754,629 registered complaints, while more than 420,000 posts were removed and later re-uploaded following user appeals.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NITDA’s Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, commended the platforms for their compliance, describing the exercise as “a significant step towards fostering a safer and more responsible digital environment for Nigerian users.”
Umar added, “This achievement reflects the provisions of the Code of Practice, which mandates that large service platforms register in Nigeria, comply with relevant laws, including tax obligations, and reinforce their commitment to online safety.”
The clampdown is the latest in a series of enforcement measures tied to the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries, first introduced in 2022. The code, jointly developed by NITDA, NCC, and NBC, set out obligations for online platforms operating in Nigeria, including local registration, tax compliance, and stricter moderation of harmful content.
In 2023, regulators warned platforms against non-compliance, while in 2024, the first full compliance report revealed the removal of millions of offensive posts and confirmed that leading tech firms were cooperating with Nigerian authorities.
The 2025 figures, however, show a sharp increase both in the number of harmful contents taken down and accounts deactivated, underlining the government’s intensified efforts to curb disinformation, hate speech, and harmful digital activity.
While acknowledging progress, NITDA emphasised that building a safer digital ecosystem requires ongoing collaboration among government, industry stakeholders, and civil society groups.
The agency pledged to continue working to enhance digital literacy, strengthen user safety measures, and promote transparency within Nigeria’s fast-growing online community.
