TikTok Denies Restricting Access in Northern Nigeria

 

By Atlantic Reports

TikTok has denied imposing restrictions on its platform in Northern Nigeria following reports that users in several states have been unable to reliably view or upload content.

The company’s Head of Communications for Sub-Saharan Africa, Ms Keagile Makgoba, issued the clarification in a statement on Monday.

“We can confirm that this restriction was not implemented by TikTok,” she said.

Makgoba said the company was engaging relevant stakeholders to resolve the reported access difficulties and remained committed to ensuring access for its communities.

Her statement did not identify the cause of the disruption or provide a timeline for restoring normal service.

A coalition of civil society organisations had earlier called for an independent investigation, saying users in Kaduna, Kebbi, Kano and Sokoto had experienced difficulties loading videos, viewing content and uploading materials since 14 September.

The organisations urged relevant authorities and telecommunications operators to establish the cause and publicly clarify whether a directive or technical problem was responsible.

TikTok’s denial addresses whether the company imposed the reported restriction. It does not establish what caused the access problems, how many users were affected or whether the difficulties occurred across all networks.

For affected users, the unresolved issue is reliable access to the platform. A clear explanation from the relevant service providers and authorities would help distinguish a technical disruption from any deliberate restriction.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.