The Nigerian government has confirmed the shutdown of over 13.5 million social media accounts for breaching platform rules and violating the Code of Practice 2024.
According to the compliance report submitted by major tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, and TikTok, the affected accounts—spread across platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X—were flagged for spreading harmful or offensive content.
The Code of Practice, jointly developed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), requires digital platforms to implement stricter safeguards against harmful online activity.
The 2024 compliance report, officially titled “Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report: Highlights of Social Media Platforms’ Online Safety Efforts”, revealed that 58.9 million pieces of harmful content were taken down in total.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday, NITDA spokesperson Hadiza Umar disclosed that regulators received over 754,000 complaints from users. Of these, 420,439 items of content were initially removed but later restored after successful user appeals.
Umar praised the platforms for cooperating with Nigerian authorities and stressed that the reports provide “critical insights into how companies are working to safeguard users and enforce community standards.”
She added that the ongoing compliance exercise is a major step toward creating a safer and more transparent digital space in Nigeria. The government, she said, will continue to collaborate with industry players, civil society, and regulators to strengthen online safety, improve digital literacy, and foster public trust in the country’s digital ecosystem.