The federal government has deactivated 13.5 million social media accounts and removed nearly 60 million posts for alleged violations of its code of practice.
This was disclosed on Wednesday in a statement by Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
According to the statement, a total of 13,597,057 accounts across platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) were deactivated.
“Major tech companies—Microsoft, Google, Meta, TikTok, and X—enforced the measure in compliance with the code of practice “issued jointly by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).”
Umar further revealed that 58,909,112 pieces of offensive content were taken down across the platforms.
“We recorded 58,909,112 content takedown, 420,439 removed and re-uploaded content following appeal by users,” she said.
“There were 13,597,057 closed and deactivated accounts.”
She added that the compliance reports from the platforms offered “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.
“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.”