Nigerian Government Shuts Down Over 13 Million Social Media Accounts

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, Technology Thursday, August 21st, 2025

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The federal government has stated that it has shut down 13 million social media accounts after they violated the code of practice on offensive content.

The accounts were taken out from platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.

This was disclosed in a ‘Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report’ submitted by promoters of interactive computer service platforms like Google, Microsoft and TikTok, etc.

The Code of Practice was jointly issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Hadiza Umar, NITDA’s director of corporate communications and media relations, in a statement on Wednesday, disclosed that 58,909,112 offensive contents were brought down from different platforms.

Umar applauded Google, Microsoft, and TikTok for adhering to the directives of the code of practice for interactive computer service platforms.

According to her, 754,629 complaints were registered from different platforms, and 420,439 pieces of content were brought down and re-uploaded after user appeals.

“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,” she said.

“The submission of these reports marks a significant step towards fostering a safer and responsible digital environment for Nigerian users.

“It also demonstrates the platforms’ commitment to ensuring a secure and trustworthy online environment for all.

“This achievement reflects the provisions of the code of practice, which mandates that large service platforms are registered in Nigeria and comply with relevant laws, including the fulfilment of their tax obligation, while reinforcing the commitment to online safety for Nigerians.

“While NITDA acknowledges these commendable efforts, we emphasise that building a safer digital space requires sustained collaboration and engagement among all stakeholders.

“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.”