The Federal Government has announced the shutdown of more than 13 million social media accounts across different platforms for violating the Code of Practice 2024.
According to the authorities, a total of 13,597,057 accounts were removed from platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X due to offensive content and breaches of guidelines.
The disclosure was contained in the Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report, submitted to the government by operators of interactive computer service platforms such as Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.
The Code of Practice was issued jointly by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, and the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC.
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The 2024 report, titled Code of Practice 2024 Compliance Report Highlights Social Media Platforms’ Efforts on Online Harm Protection, outlined measures taken by companies to ensure user safety.
A statement released on Wednesday by NITDA’s spokesperson, Hadiza Umar, revealed that 58,909,112 offensive contents were also removed across different platforms during the period under review.
The statement further noted that 754,629 complaints were registered, while 420,439 pieces of content were taken down and later re-uploaded after successful appeals by users.
“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,” Umar said.
She added, “The submission of these reports marks a significant step towards fostering a safer and responsible digital environment for Nigerian users.”
Umar also reiterated that the government would continue to work with industry stakeholders, civil society groups, and regulatory agencies to improve digital literacy, strengthen safety measures, and promote transparency in Nigeria’s online space.
The government commended Google, Microsoft, and TikTok for complying with the Code of Practice for Internet Intermediaries and reaffirmed its commitment to building trust in the nation’s digital ecosystem.
The report is expected to guide further reforms in Nigeria’s regulation of online platforms to protect users from harmful digital practices.
