By Alfa Shaban
Three global tech giants, Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok, in 2024, agreed to pull down close to 59 million social media posts deemed as harmful content by the Nigerian government.
The trio also deactivated over 13.5 million accounts for violating the country’s internet regulations, a July 2025 Compliance Report published by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has disclosed.
According to NITDA, the report: “presents an overview of the 2024 compliance submissions received from social media platforms operating in Nigeria, in accordance with the Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and Internet Intermediaries (CoP for ICSP/II), issued by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).”
Four compliance categories – Removals, deactivation, content reinstatement and user complaint handling
Accounts are closed and deactivated due to violations of the provisions of the Code of Practice and the Platforms’ community rules. These violations encompass issues such as fake accounts, bullying, harassment, child pornography, hate speech, and more.
With respect to removal of content with or without a court order, the report said: “The content was removed for violating the provisions of the Code of Practice and the Platforms’ community rules. These violations include issues such as child endangerment, hate speech, fake news, and more.”
There are two other broad areas of platform compliance the government leverages, “Content Reinstatement,” where platforms must provide mechanisms for users to appeal the reinstatement of removed content, promoting fairness and user empowerment.
Then, the User Complaint Handling mandates that platforms must establish effective complaint resolution mechanisms to address user concerns promptly and improve the overall user experience.
Below are the content removal and account deactivation statistics for each platform
| Platform | TikTok | Total | ||
| Content removal | 50,113,273 | 243,2584 | 8,561,255 | 58,918,112 |
| Account deactivation | 9,680,141 | 1,612,199 | 2,303,920 | 13,596,260 |
According to NITDA, compliance by the platforms is “crucial for prioritising the well-being of Nigerians online by reducing exposure to harmful content, enhancing user trust, and fostering a positive digital experience.”
NITDA official speaks
Local media outlets quote Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications at NITDA, while speaking in Abuja, to have commended tech companies for adhering to the 2024 Code of Practice (CoP).
The CoP mandates that large platforms register locally, comply with tax regulations, and follow Nigerian laws.
“These reports mark a significant step towards building a safer and more responsible digital environment for Nigerians,” Umar said in a statement. “They demonstrate a shared commitment to protecting users and promoting a trustworthy online space.
“We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to enhance digital literacy, enforce safety standards, and strengthen trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem,” she said.
X and Meta yet to cooperate
It is worth noting that two major tech platforms that have refused to comply with the government are X and Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads).
In an interview with FactSpace Nigeria, Engineer Rabiu Haruna said for tech giants that refuse to cooperate with the government, “the compliance policy must have an impact on defaulters, and I am sure it will be applied appropriately.”
He also rejects concerns that the government is holding tech platforms by the scruff and, by so doing, stifling free speech.
“Every country has its local laws besides the international, which protect the interests of its citizens as well as provide safety and security of its territory,” he added.
