Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
TikTok users across several northern Nigerian states have reported persistent difficulty accessing the platform for nearly two weeks, with many resorting to Virtual Private Networks to restore normal service, as regulators, telecommunications operators and the company itself remain silent on the cause of the disruption.
The access problems have been reported in Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto states, where users described feeds freezing midway through scrolling, videos failing to load and uploads repeatedly stalling on standard mobile data connections. The disruption appears to have begun around September 14 and has continued, though its severity varies by location and network. In Sokoto, Ameenu Ahmed told Tech Digest he had been unable to use TikTok normally since that Monday. "Yes, we have been unable to access TikTok since Monday. I had to use a VPN before it worked. This is what a lot of us are using," he said.
In Kaduna, Yunusa Muhammad reported a similar experience. "Since Monday, TikTok has not been opening on my phone unless I turn on a VPN. At first, I thought it was my data, but my friends here in Kaduna are complaining about the same thing," he said. Another Kaduna resident, Aisha Sani, said the problem persisted even when other internet services were functioning normally. "In my area here in Kaduna, TikTok stopped working directly. You will just keep scrolling and nothing loads. It only works when I connect with a VPN," she said. Some users also reported difficulties accessing TikTok through its mobile web version, suggesting the disruption may not be limited to the app alone.
In Kano, Halimatu Yar Lele said the platform had not been functioning normally. "Sometimes the app opens, but videos take too long to load or the feed stops responding. It is frustrating, especially for creators who depend on the platform to reach their audience," she said. Bello Isa, another Kano user, noted that other applications were working normally on his device. "TikTok can stay loading for a long time, and sometimes it becomes accessible only after changing the network connection," he said. In Sokoto, Hamza Musa said the disruption affected both viewing and uploading content. "Sometimes I can access TikTok after waiting for a long time, but the experience is not normal. We need to know what is causing the problem," he said.
The absence of an official explanation has fuelled speculation. There has been no public confirmation from Nigerian regulators, telecommunications operators or TikTok that an official block has been imposed. Possible explanations raised in reports include technical problems, network routing issues, traffic management or deliberate interference, although none has been established as the cause. The fact that some users regain access through VPNs does not, on its own, prove that authorities or telecom companies are blocking the platform. Technically, successful access through a VPN indicates that changing the route through which internet traffic travels is bypassing whatever is interfering with the original connection, but it does not establish deliberate blocking. The geographical concentration of complaints in specific northern states also suggests the disruption is not a nationwide TikTok shutdown, nor is there sufficient evidence to conclude that TikTok itself is experiencing a general service failure.
The disruption is unfolding against a backdrop of heightened regulatory scrutiny of social media platforms in Nigeria and a charged political environment ahead of the 2027 general elections, scheduled for January 16. With elections drawing near, some observers have suggested the disruption may be a deliberate effort to censor the north and restrict access to non-mainstream media, though no evidence has been presented to substantiate that claim. The Nigerian Senate has advanced a bill seeking to compel social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook and X, to establish physical offices in Nigeria, a proposal lawmakers say will improve accountability, data protection and tax compliance. The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 to make local offices mandatory for platforms operating in the country. Stakeholders backed the proposal during a public hearing in Abuja, arguing that countries such as the United Kingdom, India and South Africa have attracted major technology firms to establish local operations. The bill has not yet become law.
TikTok has also been navigating increasing regulatory pressure in Nigeria. The platform removed more than 4.8 million videos in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2026 as it intensified enforcement against harmful content and strengthened artificial intelligence safety measures, attributing its enforcement efforts partly to collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser. In July 2026, TikTok temporarily restricted its LIVE feature in Nigeria during late-night hours, citing an ongoing safety investigation. The National Broadcasting Commission, the Nigerian Communications Commission and the National Information Technology Development Agency have jointly issued a Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms, under which platforms including TikTok have deactivated millions of Nigerian accounts for violations.
For TikTok users in northern Nigeria, the practical effect of the disruption is significant. TikTok has become a major platform for entertainment, news, political discussion, advertising and small businesses in Nigeria, meaning prolonged disruption could affect not only ordinary users but also creators and entrepreneurs who depend on the service for income and visibility. Until an official explanation is provided, affected users have little recourse beyond VPNs, a workaround that raises its own questions about data security and the nature of the interference. Whether the disruption is a technical fault, a regulatory action or something else entirely remains unknown. What is clear is that for users in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto, direct access to TikTok is unreliable, and the silence from the authorities has left them to draw their own conclusions.
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