Over 28m Nigerian-linked accounts deactivated by global tech firms

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, has revealed that three major global tech companies deactivated over 28 million Nigerian-linked accounts in the past year due to fraud, impersonation, and harmful online activity.

Speaking on Monday at a digital innovations in crisis communication symposium organized by the Centre for Crisis Communication, Abdullahi said Google disabled 9.68 million accounts, LinkedIn removed nearly 16 million, and TikTok carried out similar large-scale account removals.

He described the scale of impersonation on LinkedIn as “alarming,” highlighting that even professional networks are now exploited for fraud and social engineering.

Abdullahi noted that digital platforms collectively removed over 58.9 million harmful content items, while 420,000 posts were restored after review.

“If content does not violate Nigerian law, we have no basis to demand its removal,” he said, stressing the need for transparent content removal and reinstatement processes that protect free speech while addressing genuinely harmful material.

Abdullahi said the actions are part of ongoing collaborations between the Federal Government and global tech companies to curb digital threats, strengthen crisis response mechanisms, and support regulatory compliance and data protection initiatives, including the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.

He noted that social media, while central to communication in Nigeria, has facilitated the spread of misinformation, extremist content, and digital fraud, underscoring the importance of cooperation between agencies like NITDA, NCC, and NDPC and global platforms.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by Jibrin Ndace, emphasized the need to harness emerging technologies to enhance crisis communication and national stability.

Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd.), Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication, described crisis communication as a critical national security function, highlighting the importance of verified and timely information in managing emergencies.