NITDA Flags Meta and X for Non-Compliance with Nigeria’s Online Platforms Code

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has accused major social media platforms of failing to fully comply with Nigeria’s Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms and Internet Intermediaries, raising questions about accountability and regulatory oversight.

According to NITDA’s 2024 Compliance Report, Meta, owners of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, as well as Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter), fell short of key requirements under the Code. While Meta complied with some provisions—such as incorporation in Nigeria, maintaining a physical presence, and filing tax returns—it failed to submit its content moderation report using the prescribed template, undermining comparability across platforms.

X, on the other hand, was found to have ignored all obligations under the Code. The platform neither submitted its 2024 compliance report nor incorporated locally, maintained a physical address, or appointed a compliance officer as required.

Other platforms, including LinkedIn, Google, and TikTok, were found to have made what NITDA described as “fair compliance,” with all three submitting reports and implementing measures to monitor harmful content. The agency revealed that Google, Microsoft, and TikTok alone deactivated more than 13.5 million accounts in 2024 and recorded 58.9 million content takedowns. In addition, 420,439 pieces of content that were initially removed were reinstated following successful user appeals.

Despite these findings, NITDA stopped short of announcing immediate penalties for the infractions. The agency, however, confirmed that non-compliance constitutes a violation of the NITDA Act and is sanctionable.