Crisis communication alerts as over 28 million fake accounts are removed by major tech firms in Nigeria’s push to curb online fraud and harmful content

Speaking at a symposium in Abuja on Monday, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Abdullahi, revealed that Crisis Communication Alerts have intensified after three major technology platforms deactivated more than 28 million accounts linked to fraud, impersonation and harmful content over the past year.

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He noted that Google alone disabled 9,680,141 accounts associated with online fraud and manipulative content, while LinkedIn removed almost 16 million accounts.

TikTok, he added, recorded similarly significant enforcement measures. Abdullahi described LinkedIn’s figures as shocking, arguing that a platform designed for professionals should not be witnessing such rampant impersonation and deceit.

He explained that the deactivations followed strengthened collaboration between the Federal Government and global technology giants aimed at curbing online harms and improving national crisis communication systems.

Abdullahi said more than 58.9 million pieces of content were also taken down within the same period, while 420,000 posts were later reinstated after appeals or internal reviews.

He stressed the need for transparent take-down and reinstatement mechanisms that prevent abuse while protecting minority voices.

According to him, Nigeria’s partnership with major tech companies has enhanced communication channels and supported frameworks such as the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation, which eventually led to the establishment of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.

He acknowledged that social media has become both a critical tool for communication and a dangerous avenue for misinformation, extremist propaganda and scams targeting individuals, organisations and public institutions.

Regulatory bodies including NITDA, the NCC and the Data Protection Commission continue to work with global platforms to enforce local laws without undermining free expression.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Ndace, emphasised that emerging technologies must be used to strengthen crisis response while safeguarding national security.

He warned that dangerous narratives can deepen insecurity when left unchecked.

Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication, retired Major General Chris Olukolade, said crisis communication has evolved into a strategic national security asset.