TikTok has denied restricting access to its platform in parts of Northern Nigeria, saying the reported disruption was not imposed by the social media company.
The platform’s Head of Communications for Sub-Saharan Africa, Keagile Makgoba, made this known in a statement on Monday, October 12, 2026, following complaints from users experiencing difficulties accessing the service.
“We can confirm that this restriction was not implemented by TikTok,” Makgoba said, adding that the company was engaging relevant stakeholders to resolve the situation.
The reported disruption has affected users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto states, with some complaining that videos fail to load, feeds freeze and uploads do not go through. Some users reportedly regained access after connecting through virtual private networks (VPNs).
The development has raised concerns among digital rights organisations, which have called for an independent investigation to establish the cause of the disruption and determine whether it resulted from technical problems or deliberate restrictions.
The organisations have urged relevant government agencies, telecommunications operators and other stakeholders to investigate the matter and publicly disclose their findings.
TikTok has reiterated its commitment to maintaining access for its users but has not disclosed when normal service is expected to be fully restored in the affected areas.
