Digital Economy: Why global tech giants deactivated over 28m Nigerian users’ accounts —Official

*Dr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, discloses the three major technology cum social media platforms − Google, LinkedIn, TikTok – really deactivated over 28 million Nigerian users’ accounts linked to online fraud, impersonation, and the propagation of harmful content in the last one year

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has affirmed the three major technology cum social media platforms − Google, LinkedIn, TikTok − deactivated over 28 million accounts in connection with fraud, impersonation and harmful content in the last one year.

ConsumerConnect reports Dr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, who recently confirmed this development Monday, November 24, 2025, while speaking at a symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication, said Google alone deactivated 9,680,141 accounts used for online fraud, impersonation, and the propagation of harmful content.

Inuwa said LinkedIn also removed almost 16 million accounts while TikTok followed suit with a similar action.

The latest development in the digital ecosystem is said to be in line with the Federal Government’s continued efforts, through the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy’s (FMCIDE) agencies, such as NITDA, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC), at engaging with some global technology giants to enforce local regulations, protect digital consumers, and ensure national security without hindering free expression.

It is common knowledge that Nigerians use social media overwhelmingly on mobile phones. The majority of social media users in the country have also used mobile devices with high usage on other platforms, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube.

In early 2024, there were over 36 million social media users in the West African country, a significant portion of whom use mobile phones for their Internet connectivity, a report said.

The Director-General of NITDA, at the forum organised by the Centre for Crisis Communication, also described LinkedIn’s figures as “outrageous”.

According to him, the platform, although designed for professionals, has increasingly been exploited for impersonation and other crimes.

Inuwa stated: “So within last year, we have these platforms submitting their annual report. Just three platforms — Google, LinkedIn and TikTok — deactivated over 28 million accounts.

“Google deactivated 9,680,141 accounts used for different online frauds, impersonation, propagating harmful content and so on. We have LinkedIn removing almost 16 million.”

He further noted: “For me, this is outrageous because LinkedIn is mostly a professional site. So, why are people using it to cause crises and other things?

“They use it for impersonation, and for social engineering to defraud organisations and individuals.”

He equally stated that the deferments followed an ongoing collaboration between the Federal Government and global technology giants to curb online harms and improve crisis management in the Nigerian digital space.

Over 58.9 million pieces of content were removed across the platforms within the same period, while 420,000 posts were reinstated after appeals or internal reviews, noted he.

Inuwa restated: “Over 58,909,000 contents were removed last year through our relationship with these big techs, and 420,000 contents were reinstated — some after complaints, some after their own internal review.”

The NITDA Chief Executive emphasised the need for a clear, agreed take-down and reinstatement process to prevent abuse by governments or other powerful groups, while ensuring that genuinely harmful content is swiftly removed for the country’s cyberspace.

He, however, said: “If content is not violating any laws in Nigeria, there is no way we can just say take it down.”

He as well noted that minority voices must also be protected through a reinstatement mechanism.

Nigeria’s engagement with Big Techs improving communication channels, supporting digital initiatives

NITDA said the Nigerian Government’s work with the Big Techs has improved communication channels and supported initiatives, such as Nigeria’s Data Protection Regulation, which led to the establishment of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.

It is recalled that over the past decade, social media platforms have become central not only to socio-political communication but also the spread of false information, extremist propaganda, and scams targeting individuals, organisations, and government institutions in Nigeria.

Speaking at the symposium, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Honourable Minister for Information and National Orientation, asserted that emerging technologies must be leveraged to transform crisis communication in ways that protect public safety and uphold national security.

Represented at the forum by Jibrin Ndace, Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Minister Mohammed noted that while technology introduces vast opportunities, it equally presents serious challenges that can undermine stability, if left unregulated.

The Minister also explained: “It is not only the insecurity that we battle, but also the narrative that frames the insecurity.”

He noted the way these issues are reported carries significant impact on the digital consumers, and the entire country.

Major-General Chris Olukolade (Rtd.), Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication, said crisis communication is no longer a supportive function but a strategic national security asset, warning that modern crises now unfold in real time and demand equally rapid and reliable communication responses.

Olukolade said digital platforms had significantly reshaped how emergencies evolve and how institutions must respond.

The Chairman of the Centre averred that the survival of affected populations now increasingly depends on rapid access to verified information, institutional coordination and public response speed in the digital ecosystem.

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