TikTok Denies Implementing Access Restrictions in Northern Nigeria
TikTok is engaging stakeholders to resolve service disruptions affecting users in Northern Nigeria after denying that the company implemented the restrictions.
Users in Northern Nigeria have reported restricted access to TikTok since September 14, with specific disruptions noted in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, and Sokoto states. Affected users reported that feeds froze and videos failed to load, though many regained access by using virtual private networks (VPNs).
TikTok denied responsibility for the outages, stating that the company did not implement the restrictions. Keagile Makgoba, the company's head of communications for Sub-Saharan Africa, confirmed the platform is engaging with relevant stakeholders to restore access for its community.
The Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations has called on the Government of Nigeria to conduct a prompt, transparent, and independent investigation into the disruptions. The coalition urged regulators to prioritize freedom of expression and access to information, arguing that any security or public order concerns should be addressed through targeted, lawful measures rather than the unexplained disruption of an entire communications platform.
