TikTok distances itself from Northern Nigeria blackout; cause remains unclear

TikTok has distanced itself from claims of imposing restrictions on its platform in Northern Nigeria, stating it is collaborating with relevant stakeholders to resolve ongoing connectivity issues reported by users. The company made the assertion in a statement to Nairametrics on Monday, following widespread reports of difficulties accessing TikTok in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, and Sokoto states.

Some users resorted to virtual private networks (VPNs) to regain access to the short video-sharing platform. However, TikTok did not specify the cause of the disruption or the stakeholders involved in the engagement. The problem emerged around September 14, 2026, with users in Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto reporting videos failing to load, feeds not refreshing, and uploads stalling on regular mobile data connections.

A Tech Digest report on September 17 documented similar complaints from users. Civil society organizations subsequently called for an investigation into the cause of the disruption, urging the government, telecommunications regulators, and service providers to clarify whether any deliberate restriction had been imposed. The organizations also urged telecommunications operators and TikTok to cooperate in determining the cause of the problem.

The exact nature of the disruption remains unclear, with available information failing to establish whether it resulted from a technical fault, network routing issue, platform-side issue, traffic management measure, or intentional restriction.