The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, has revealed that major tech platforms have deactivated over 28 million Nigerian accounts over the past year due to fraud, impersonation, and the spread of harmful content.
According to Abdullahi, Google deactivated 9,680,141 accounts, while LinkedIn removed nearly 16 million accounts, and TikTok took similar measures to curb online abuse.
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Speaking at a symposium on digital innovations in crisis communication organized by the Centre for Crisis Communication, Abdullahi described the misuse of professional platforms like LinkedIn as “outrageous,” noting that the platform is increasingly exploited for impersonation, fraud, and social engineering scams targeting individuals and organizations.
- “Within the last year, just three platforms — Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok — deactivated over 28 million accounts linked to online fraud, impersonation, and the dissemination of harmful content,” he said.
He added that more than 58.9 million pieces of content were removed across these platforms during the same period, while 420,000 posts were reinstated after appeals or internal reviews, underscoring the importance of a fair take-down and reinstatement process to protect legitimate voices.
Abdullahi emphasized the need to safeguard minority voices while ensuring harmful content is swiftly removed, stressing that content not violating Nigerian law should not be arbitrarily taken down.
The NITDA DG also highlighted the collaboration between the Federal Government and global technology companies to enhance crisis communication, enforce Nigeria’s Data Protection Regulation, and strengthen the Nigerian Data Protection Commission’s initiatives.
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Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said while technology provides opportunities for progress, it also presents serious security challenges if not properly regulated.
- “It is not only the insecurity that we battle, but also the narrative that frames the insecurity,” he noted, highlighting the significant impact of online content on public perception and national security.
Retired Major General Chris Olukolade, Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication, added that digital platforms now shape how crises unfold, making verified information, institutional coordination, and rapid public response essential for national stability and public safety.
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