Kashifu Abdullahi, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, announced on Monday that three major technology platforms have cancelled over 28 million accounts linked to fraud, impersonation, and harmful information in the last year.
Kashifu claims that Google alone banned and cancelled 9,680,141 accounts used for online fraud, impersonation, and the spread of damaging content, whilst LinkedIn eliminated nearly 16 million. He also stated that TikTok engaged in similar actions.
He spoke at a symposium on digital innovations in crisis communication organised by the Centre for Crisis Communication, Abdullahi described LinkedIn’s figures as “outrageous,” where he noted that the platform, which was designed for professionals, has increasingly been used for impersonation and other crimes.
He explained, “So, throughout the last year, we had these platforms submit their yearly reports. More than 28 million accounts were terminated by only three platforms: Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
“Google terminated 9,680,141 accounts used for various online frauds, impersonation, and spreading unwanted content. We have LinkedIn erasing about 16 million users.
“This is unacceptable to me because LinkedIn is primarily a professional platform. So, why are individuals utilising it to fuel crises and other problems? They use it to swindle and defraud businesses and individuals through impersonation and social engineering.
He explained that the suspensions were the result of continuing coordination between the Federal Government and global technology corporations to reduce online harms and improve crisis response.
Abdullahi went on to say that over 58.9 million pieces of content were removed across all platforms over the same time period, while 420,000 posts were reinstated following appeals or internal reviews.
As he told reporters yesterday that over 58,909,000 contents were removed last year through our relationship with these big techs, and 420,000 contents were reinstated and some after complaints, some after their own internal review.
The NITDA DG emphasised the importance of having a clear, agreed-upon take-down and restoration process in place to prevent misuse by governments or other powerful parties while also ensuring that really harmful content is removed quickly.
“If the content does not violate any Nigerian laws, there is no way we can just take it down,” he added, adding that minority views must also be preserved through a reinstatement mechanism.
Abdullahi also stated that the government’s collaboration with big tech companies has enhanced communication channels and backed efforts such as Nigeria’s Data Protection Regulation, which resulted in the formation of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.
With respect to press reports, social media platforms have grown important to communication over the last decade, as well as the propagation of false information, extremist propaganda, and scams aimed at individuals, organisations, and government institutions.
The Federal Government, through institutions such as NITDA, the Nigerian Communications Commission, and now the Nigerian Data Protection Commission, has been working with global digital corporations to impose local restrictions that safeguard users and national security without suffocating free speech.
Mohammed Idris, who is also the Minister of Information and National Orientation has underlined the importance of leveraging emerging technology to improve crisis communication in ways that preserve public safety and national security.
With respects to statements presented on his behalf by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, the Minister stated that while technology provides numerous opportunities, it also poses major dangers that, if unregulated, might threaten stability.
“We are fighting not only insecurity, but also the narrative that frames it,” the minister stated, adding that how these issues are portrayed has a huge impact.
Retired Major General Chris Olukolade, Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication, stated that crisis communication is no longer a support function, but rather a strategic national security asset, warning that modern crises now unfold in real time, necessitating equally rapid and reliable communication responses.
He pointed out that internet platforms have profoundly altered how emergencies evolve and how institutions must respond.
He believes that the survival of affected communities is becoming increasingly dependent on timely access to verified information, institutional coordination, and public response speed.
The platforms’ efforts were the result of a stronger partnership between the Nigerian government and global internet corporations to tackle online damage. This is consistent with Nigeria’s efforts to create a national legal framework for internet safety through the planned internet Harm Protection Bill.
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