A coalition of 12 civil society organisations has called on the Federal Government, regulators, telecom operators and TikTok to explain a weeks-long disruption of the platform in parts of northern Nigeria, warning that the silence from institutions is deepening public concern.
The groups say users in Kaduna, Kebbi, Kano and Sokoto have struggled to load TikTok, watch videos and upload content since around September 14, 2026. What started as “intermittent access difficulties,” they said, “has grown into a multi-week digital blackout.”
In a preliminary statement issued today, the coalition said the disruption does not appear to be tied to a single internet service provider, since access is reportedly available only to some users who connect through virtual private networks (VPNs).
The groups stressed that the cause remains unestablished. “No public explanation has established the cause,” the statement said, noting that the problem could stem from a technical failure, a routing problem, a platform-side malfunction, a traffic management measure or an intentional restriction.
The coalition is using the neutral term “TikTok Disruption” pending further technical evidence, but said, “over two weeks of institutional silence is cause of concern.” The groups also warned of wider consequences. “Unexplained social media disruptions not only undermine democracy but also truncate the local economy,” the statement said, adding that millions of citizens whose livelihoods depend on social media are affected.
The coalition called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and affected state governments to “urgently investigate the reported disruption” and publish their findings, working with network operators, internet service providers and TikTok.
If the disruption is deliberate, the groups want it ended unless it is “clearly authorised by law” and meets human-rights tests of legality, legitimate purpose, necessity and proportionality. If any government body has issued an instruction or order affecting TikTok, the coalition wants its legal basis, scope, duration and purpose disclosed.
On national security, the statement said such concerns should not become a “blanket justification.” Where a genuine threat exists, the groups argued, authorities should target the specific unlawful conduct or content rather than restrict an entire platform.
The NCC was also urged to facilitate independent network measurements by qualified researchers and civil society groups. These would check for DNS interference, IP or domain blocking, SNI or protocol interference, throttling, routing anomalies and differences across networks and locations.
Telecom operators, the coalition said, should be required to inform consumers about the nature and extent of major disruptions and the expected restoration times, and the NCC should clarify whether the TikTok issue has been logged as a network incident.
TikTok was asked to publicly clarify whether it has found technical problems affecting northern Nigerian users or has made changes to its infrastructure, routing, or content-delivery systems in the country.
On VPNs, the coalition said that users regaining access through them “should not, by itself, be treated as evidence of unlawful conduct,” and that any VPN restrictions must meet the same legal tests. It added that users, journalists, researchers and civil society groups should be free to document the disruption, and that authorities “should not intimidate, harass, arrest or otherwise penalise individuals” for doing so.
The groups grounded their demands in Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which protects freedom of expression, including the right to receive and impart information. They also cited the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which requires restrictions to be provided by law, serve a legitimate interest and be necessary in a democratic society, and the UN Special Rapporteur’s position that States should refrain from interfering with digital communications platforms unless human-rights standards are met.
The coalition also pointed to the Federal Government’s July 2026 decision, announced by Communications Minister Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, to set up a Joint Technical Coordination Committee of the NCC, NITDA and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. That body is meant to consult industry, civil society and academia on a harmonised national policy framework. The groups urged authorities to apply a similar consultative approach to disruptions.
Beyond the immediate crisis, the groups want a national Internet disruption transparency protocol requiring prompt notification of significant disruptions, disclosure of causes and any government directives, restoration timelines, independent verification, post-incident reports and complaint mechanisms for users. Such a framework, the statement said, “would reduce uncertainty, prevent misinformation and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.”
The coalition also wants a final investigation report that explains what happened, which networks were affected, the technical cause, whether any government agency or legal directive was involved, and what will prevent a recurrence.
Looking ahead, the coalition said it will keep monitoring user reports, engage stakeholders and “assess the need for further action as additional evidence becomes available.”
The statement was issued by Accountability Lab (AL) Nigeria, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Digital Africa Research and Safety Lab (DigiAfricaLab), DigiCivic Initiative, Gatefield, Hope Behind Bars Africa, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Paradigm Initiative (PIN), RACE Africa, Spaces for Change (S4C), TechHerNG and TechSocietal.
Further information is available from Idowu Adewale, Communications Officer at Media Rights Agenda.
