Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen | Stone Reporters News
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullah, has announced that the Federal Government plans to implement stronger oversight of TikTok and other social media platforms operating in Nigeria.
Speaking at a recent media briefing, Abdullah explained that the decision is part of efforts to ensure that content circulating on digital platforms aligns with national objectives, including digital literacy, skill development, online safety, and national unity.
“Nigeria must take responsibility for shaping how digital platforms operate within its borders,” Abdullah stated.
Drawing parallels with global trends, he noted that even the United States has introduced similar measures to protect its citizens’ digital interests.
“When we look at the U.S., it is also doing it for its own digital dignity — and what is good for the U.S. is also good for Africa and Nigeria,” he added.
The NITDA boss highlighted that most global tech platforms were not designed with African users or local regulations in mind, making it necessary for Nigeria to assert its digital sovereignty.
“When these apps are being designed, they don’t take us into consideration or note our laws. But since we have that self-determination, we should tell them how we want these platforms to operate in Nigeria,” Abdullah said.
While recognizing the benefits of platforms like TikTok in promoting creativity and self-expression, Abdullah expressed concern that many users focus solely on entertainment rather than skill-building or productive engagement.
“We want to see people using it to promote digital safety and create content that builds a stronger nation. But mostly, we use it for entertainment, which takes away time our youth could use to develop skills for the future,” he concluded.
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