The Federal Government of Nigeria has closed down 13,597,057 social media accounts for offensive content and violations of the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms 2024.
The action, disclosed in the Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report, affected major platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Google, and Microsoft-owned services.
According to the report titled “Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report Highlights Social Media Platforms’ Efforts on Online Harm Protection,” a total of 58,909,112 offensive contents were taken down during the year, while 754,629 complaints were formally registered by users.
The Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NITDA, Hajiya Hadiza Umar, confirmed the figures in a statement on Wednesday. She noted that 420,439 contents were removed and later re-uploaded after successful appeals.
“The compliance reports provide valuable insights into the platforms’ efforts to address user safety concerns in line with the Code of Practice and their community guidelines,” Umar stated.
She added that the submission of compliance reports by the platforms marked “a significant step towards fostering a safer and responsible digital environment for Nigerian users.”
The Code of Practice, jointly issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), requires major platforms to:
- Register their operations in Nigeria
- Comply with local laws and tax obligations
- Implement strict online harm protection measures
While commending the platforms for compliance, NITDA stressed that sustained collaboration among regulators, industry players, and civil society remains essential for strengthening digital literacy, online safety, and user trust.
