By 
By Yusuf Baba
Social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Meta (owners of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram) have declined Nigerian government requests to remove content flagged as incendiary amid the #EndBadGovernance protests that began on August 1.
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Despite the largely peaceful protests, reports of violence and skirmishes have emerged in cities such as Kano, Maiduguri, and Kaduna, prompting a 24-hour curfew in Maiduguri.
X stated it would only remove content violating its user rules against threats or incitement of violence. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and various security agencies, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), are working continuously to identify problematic social media accounts.
A senior government official expressed frustration with the content on Facebook, X, and Instagram, emphasising ongoing efforts to engage these platforms to prevent the spread of material that could compromise national security.
The Nigerian government previously banned Twitter on June 4, 2021, after the platform removed a post by President Muhammadu Buhari threatening violence in response to secessionist movements.
As of January 2024, 36.7 million Nigerians actively use social media, with WhatsApp being the most popular platform, followed by Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Nigerian military has announced plans to intervene if violence escalates during the protests, according to a report by Reuters quoting defense spokesperson Major General Edward Buba.
