Social Media Regulations and Government Censorship in Nigeria
Main Article Content
Abstract
Social media regulations and government censorship in Nigeria have evolved over the years, shaped by the government’s desire to manage the influence of online platforms on public discourse, politics, and social activism. There have been discussions about regulating over-the-Top (OTT) services and, by extension, digital material all over the world. Through mandatory operational licenses or content filtering, regulators continue to try to bring OTT service providers' services inside their regulatory purview in a number of jurisdictions. It has been the same in Nigeria, one of the biggest markets for OTT services worldwide. Despite the fact that Nigerians are using social media more frequently and finding ways to communicate with one another that are less expensive than paying for phone calls, these calls for regulation continue to reverberate. The Nigerian government has expressed concern over the use of social media to commit crimes and support terrorist activities in the nation as a result of the exponential rise in social media usage among Nigerians and the country's escalating level of insecurity. The way that citizens criticize the government on numerous social media sites like Twitter and organize themselves for both online and offline rallies like the EndSARS Protest is even more concerning for the administration. The government's agenda to establish channels for social media and OTT regulations has been centered on these concerns. The paper argued that social media has an impact on society in many different nations throughout the world. Due to its role in amplifying and hastening regime changes in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, the Arab spring became a point of reference in numerous discourses.
Article Details
How to Cite
Uchendu, C. E., Omolara Oluwabusayo Akin-Odukoya, Funmi Falobi, Perpetua Ogechi Aondover, & Louis Benard. (2025). Social Media Regulations and Government Censorship in Nigeria. Polit Journal Scientific Journal of Politics, 5(1), 16-30. https://doi.org/10.33258/polit.v5i1.1241
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Articles
References
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Airaoje, O. K., Obada, A. A., & Msughter, A. E. (2023). A Critical Review on Gender Based Violence in Nigeria: Media Dimension. Humanities, 3(2), 9-16.
Aliyu, M. A., Msughter, A. E., & Nneka, A. Q. (2023). Comparative Study of National Development Plans in Nigeria and India: Media Dimension. SIASAT, 8(4), 202-212.
Al-Jenaibi, B. (2014). The nature of Arab public discourse: Social media and the Arab Spring. Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies, 3(2), 241–260.
Andi, S., Aytaç, S. E., & Çarkoglu, A. (2019). Internet and social media use and political knowledge: Evidence from Turkey. Mediterranean Politics, 25(5), 579–599.
Aondover, E. M. (2024). Media Outlook of Hate Speech in the 2015 and 2019 General Elections in Nigeria. Rotura–Revista de Comunicação, Cultura e Artes, 4(1), 50-63.
Aondover, E. M., & Akin-Odukoya, O. (2024). Trends and Dynamics of Popular Culture and Media Messages on Public Transport Literature in Nigeria. Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture, 5(3), 183-195.
Aondover, E. M., Daushe, A. U., Ogunbola, O., & Aondover, P. O. (2025). Media Coverage of Internally Displaced Persons in two Selected Newspapers in Nigeria. Journal of Migration and Health, 100301.
Aondover, E. M., Igwe, E. C., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., & Ridwan, M. (2024). Influence of Social Media on News Consumption and Credibility in Nigeria. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 11(2), 80-92.
Aondover, E. M., Maradun, L. U., & Yar’Adua, S. M. (2022). Mediatization of the net and internetization of the print media in Northern Nigeria. Unisia, 40(2), 335-356.
Aondover, E. M., Tosin, Y. A. N., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Exploring the Application of Social Media in Governance in Nigeria. SIASAT, 10(1), 30-43.
Aondover, E. M., Tosin, Y. A. N., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Exploring the Application of Social Media in Governance in Nigeria. SIASAT, 10(1), 30-43.
Aondover, E. M., Yar’Adua, S. M., & Aondover, P. O. (2025). Influence of Digital Images on the Propagation of Fake News on Twitter in Russia and Ukraine Crisis. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 59-74.
Aondover, P. O., & Aondover, E. M. (2023). Nollywood Offering and Nigeria People and Culture: Reflections and Projection.
Aondover, P. O., Aondover, E. M., & Babele, A. M. (2022). Two nations, same technology, different outcomes: Analysis of technology application in Africa and America. Journal of Educational Research and Review, 1(1), 001-008.
Balkin, J.M. (2020). How to Regulate and Not Regulate Social Media. Knight First Amendment Institute of Columbia University. Retrieved February 19, 2020 from https://knightcolumbia.org/content/how-to-regulate-and-not-regulate-social-media
Blackenship, C. (2021). World Voice Day: An Important Message. Journal of Singing, 77(4), 465.
Chang, H. C. (2010). A New Perspective on Twitter Hashtag Use: Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science & Technology 2010, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
DeSanctis, G., Poole, M. S., & Dickson, G. W. (1994). Teams and technology Interactions over time. In Research on managing groups and teams (pp. 1-27). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Ere, A. (2020). Digital Surveillance and Social Justice in Nigeria: A study of New Media Regulations. E-Thesis. De Montfort University, Leicester.
Fenton N (2016) Left out? Digital media, radical politics and social change.Information, Communication & Society, 19: 346-361.
Fletcher, T. (2012). “The Naked Diplomat.” The World Today 68 (11): 43.
Gurevitch, M., Coleman, S. & Blumler, J. G. (2009). Political communication −−Old and new media relationships, 625(1) 164-181. Habermas J. (1989). The structural transformation of the public sphere: An inquiry into a category of bourgeois society. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Hile, M. M., Msughter, A. E., & Aliyu, M. A. (2023). Secularism and Ethical Issues in Media Practice as a Bane for National Development. SIASAT, 8(3), 166-177.
Idris, M. K., & Msughter, A. E. (2022). Sources of Information on National Issues among Border Communities in Yobe State, Nigeria. ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement, 6(1), 22-47.
Karpf, D. (2009). Social science research methods in Internet time. Information, communication & society, 15(5), 639-661.
Kurfi, M. Y, Aondover, E. M. & Mohammed. I. (2021). Digital Images on Social Media and Proliferation of Fake News on Covid-19 in Kano, Nigeria. Galactica Media: Journal of Media Studies, 1(1), 103-124. Doi: https://doi.org/10.46539/gmd.v3i1.111.
Kurfi, M. Y., Msughter, A. E., & Maradun, L. U. (2023). Media Ethics and Power In Multicultural Nigeria.
Maclean, R. (5 June 2021). "Nigeria Bans Twitter After President's Tweet Is Deleted". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
Maikaba, B., & Msughter, A. E. (2019). Digital Media and Cultural Globalisation: The Fate of African Value System. Humanities and Social Sciences, 12(1), 214-220.
Maradun, L. U., Yar’Adua, S. M., & Msughter, A. E. (2021). Perceived value of social media in the# EndSARS’protest in Nigeria. International Journal of English Literature and Culture, 9(3), 1.
Mojaye, E. M., & Aondover, E. M. (2022). Theoretical perspectives in world information systems: A propositional appraisal of new media-communication imperatives. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 14(1), 100-106.
Moropefoluwa, O. J., Aondover, E. M., & Falobi, F. (2024). Assessment of broadcast media in mobilizing women for political participation in lagos state. Journal of Policy and Society, 2(1), 1511-1511.
Msughter, A. E. (2023). Social Media Narratives and Reflections on Hate Speech In Nigeria. Hate Speech on Social Media, 255.
Msughter, A. E., & Idris, M. K. (2023). Focus Group Discussions with Rural Women in Yobe State on Information Services for Community Engagement on Development Issues in Nigeria. Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies, 5(2), 9.
Msughter, A. E., Hile, M. M., & Yar’Adua, S. M. (2023). Ethical Issues and Insecurity in Africa: The Media Dimension. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 10(2), 58-68.
Msughter, A. E., Perpetua, A. O., & Itiafa, A. L. (2023). Artificial Intelligence and the Media: Revisiting Digital Dichotomy Theory. In Information Systems Management. IntechOpen.
Omilana, T. (2021). "Nigerians raise alarm over controversial Social Media Bill" www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
Oreoluwa, P. A., Vitalis, P. O., Nneka, A. Q., Collins-Dike, J., & Ridwan, M. (2024). Online Harassment of Female Journalist in Lagos State. Polit Journal Scientific Journal of Politics, 4(3), 162-174.
Owens-Ibie, N., & Aondover, E. M. (2024). Hate postings on social media and peace imperatives in Nigeria. Legal challenges and political strategies in the post-truth era.
Rasmussen, T. (2013). Internet-based media, Europe and the political public sphere. Media, Culture & Society, 35(1), 97–104.
Ratkiewicz, J., Conover, M., Meiss, M., Gonçalves, B., Flammini, A., & Menczer, F. (2011). Detecting and tracking political abuse in social media. In Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and social media (Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 297-304).
Saint, EJ, Aondover, EM, Ebele, UC, & Onyejelem, TE (2024). Influence of Social Media on Newspaper Patronage among Lecturers in University Of Nigeria, Nsukka. LingLit Journal Scientific Journal for Linguistics and Literature, 5 (3), 142-157.
Singhai, S. (2019). A report on WIPO-CNIPA Training Course on Management and Commercialization of Intellectual Property Assets. 57, pp. 35–37.
Sobkowicz, P. & Sobkowicz, A. (2012). Two-year study of emotion and communication patterns in a highly polarized political discussion forum. Social Science Computer Review, 0(4), 448-469.
Soedarsono, D. K., Mohamad, B., Akanmu, M. D., Putri, I. P., & Khoirunnisa, C., (2020). Political leaders and followers’ attitudes: twitter as a tool for political communication. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7, (8), 1245 – 1252.
Tsegyu, S. & Inobemhe, K. (2021). Social Media Regulation in a Democratic Nigeria: Challenges and Implication. MCC, l(5), 71 – 88.
Turner, J. H. (1986). The Theory of Structuration. American Journal of Sociology. 4 (91), 969-977.
Usman, B., Msughter, A.E., & Olaitan Ridwanullah, A. (2022). Social media literacy: fake news consumption and perception of COVID-19 in Nigeria. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 9(1), 2138011.
Vareba, A.L., Nwinaene, V. P., & Theophilus, S. B., (2017). Internet Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Nigeria. International Journal of Media, Journalism and Mass Communications (IJMJMC), (3)2, 25-30.
Vitalis, P. O., Amadi, R. N., & Whyte, D. H. (2024). Social Construct of Nollywood Films and Ethnocentrism in Southern Nigeria. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 12(2), 152-179.
Vitalis, P. O., Aondover, E. M., Ogunbola, O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Accessing Digital Divide and Implications in Nigeria: The Media Dimension. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 1-12.
Vitalis, P. O., Aondover, E. M., Ogunbola, O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Accessing Digital Divide and Implications in Nigeria: The Media Dimension. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 1-12.
Wagner, K. M., Gray, T. J., & Gainous, J. (2017). Digital information consumption and external political efficacy in Latin America: Does institutional context matter?. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 14(3), 277-291.
Yar, M. (2018). A failure to regulate? The demands and dilemmas of tackling illegal content and behaviour on social media. International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime, 1(1), 5-20.
Airaoje, O. K., Obada, A. A., & Msughter, A. E. (2023). A Critical Review on Gender Based Violence in Nigeria: Media Dimension. Humanities, 3(2), 9-16.
Aliyu, M. A., Msughter, A. E., & Nneka, A. Q. (2023). Comparative Study of National Development Plans in Nigeria and India: Media Dimension. SIASAT, 8(4), 202-212.
Al-Jenaibi, B. (2014). The nature of Arab public discourse: Social media and the Arab Spring. Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies, 3(2), 241–260.
Andi, S., Aytaç, S. E., & Çarkoglu, A. (2019). Internet and social media use and political knowledge: Evidence from Turkey. Mediterranean Politics, 25(5), 579–599.
Aondover, E. M. (2024). Media Outlook of Hate Speech in the 2015 and 2019 General Elections in Nigeria. Rotura–Revista de Comunicação, Cultura e Artes, 4(1), 50-63.
Aondover, E. M., & Akin-Odukoya, O. (2024). Trends and Dynamics of Popular Culture and Media Messages on Public Transport Literature in Nigeria. Lakhomi Journal Scientific Journal of Culture, 5(3), 183-195.
Aondover, E. M., Daushe, A. U., Ogunbola, O., & Aondover, P. O. (2025). Media Coverage of Internally Displaced Persons in two Selected Newspapers in Nigeria. Journal of Migration and Health, 100301.
Aondover, E. M., Igwe, E. C., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., & Ridwan, M. (2024). Influence of Social Media on News Consumption and Credibility in Nigeria. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 11(2), 80-92.
Aondover, E. M., Maradun, L. U., & Yar’Adua, S. M. (2022). Mediatization of the net and internetization of the print media in Northern Nigeria. Unisia, 40(2), 335-356.
Aondover, E. M., Tosin, Y. A. N., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Exploring the Application of Social Media in Governance in Nigeria. SIASAT, 10(1), 30-43.
Aondover, E. M., Tosin, Y. A. N., Akin-Odukoya, O. O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Exploring the Application of Social Media in Governance in Nigeria. SIASAT, 10(1), 30-43.
Aondover, E. M., Yar’Adua, S. M., & Aondover, P. O. (2025). Influence of Digital Images on the Propagation of Fake News on Twitter in Russia and Ukraine Crisis. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 59-74.
Aondover, P. O., & Aondover, E. M. (2023). Nollywood Offering and Nigeria People and Culture: Reflections and Projection.
Aondover, P. O., Aondover, E. M., & Babele, A. M. (2022). Two nations, same technology, different outcomes: Analysis of technology application in Africa and America. Journal of Educational Research and Review, 1(1), 001-008.
Balkin, J.M. (2020). How to Regulate and Not Regulate Social Media. Knight First Amendment Institute of Columbia University. Retrieved February 19, 2020 from https://knightcolumbia.org/content/how-to-regulate-and-not-regulate-social-media
Blackenship, C. (2021). World Voice Day: An Important Message. Journal of Singing, 77(4), 465.
Chang, H. C. (2010). A New Perspective on Twitter Hashtag Use: Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science & Technology 2010, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
DeSanctis, G., Poole, M. S., & Dickson, G. W. (1994). Teams and technology Interactions over time. In Research on managing groups and teams (pp. 1-27). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Ere, A. (2020). Digital Surveillance and Social Justice in Nigeria: A study of New Media Regulations. E-Thesis. De Montfort University, Leicester.
Fenton N (2016) Left out? Digital media, radical politics and social change.Information, Communication & Society, 19: 346-361.
Fletcher, T. (2012). “The Naked Diplomat.” The World Today 68 (11): 43.
Gurevitch, M., Coleman, S. & Blumler, J. G. (2009). Political communication −−Old and new media relationships, 625(1) 164-181. Habermas J. (1989). The structural transformation of the public sphere: An inquiry into a category of bourgeois society. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Hile, M. M., Msughter, A. E., & Aliyu, M. A. (2023). Secularism and Ethical Issues in Media Practice as a Bane for National Development. SIASAT, 8(3), 166-177.
Idris, M. K., & Msughter, A. E. (2022). Sources of Information on National Issues among Border Communities in Yobe State, Nigeria. ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement, 6(1), 22-47.
Karpf, D. (2009). Social science research methods in Internet time. Information, communication & society, 15(5), 639-661.
Kurfi, M. Y, Aondover, E. M. & Mohammed. I. (2021). Digital Images on Social Media and Proliferation of Fake News on Covid-19 in Kano, Nigeria. Galactica Media: Journal of Media Studies, 1(1), 103-124. Doi: https://doi.org/10.46539/gmd.v3i1.111.
Kurfi, M. Y., Msughter, A. E., & Maradun, L. U. (2023). Media Ethics and Power In Multicultural Nigeria.
Maclean, R. (5 June 2021). "Nigeria Bans Twitter After President's Tweet Is Deleted". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
Maikaba, B., & Msughter, A. E. (2019). Digital Media and Cultural Globalisation: The Fate of African Value System. Humanities and Social Sciences, 12(1), 214-220.
Maradun, L. U., Yar’Adua, S. M., & Msughter, A. E. (2021). Perceived value of social media in the# EndSARS’protest in Nigeria. International Journal of English Literature and Culture, 9(3), 1.
Mojaye, E. M., & Aondover, E. M. (2022). Theoretical perspectives in world information systems: A propositional appraisal of new media-communication imperatives. Journal of Communication and Media Research, 14(1), 100-106.
Moropefoluwa, O. J., Aondover, E. M., & Falobi, F. (2024). Assessment of broadcast media in mobilizing women for political participation in lagos state. Journal of Policy and Society, 2(1), 1511-1511.
Msughter, A. E. (2023). Social Media Narratives and Reflections on Hate Speech In Nigeria. Hate Speech on Social Media, 255.
Msughter, A. E., & Idris, M. K. (2023). Focus Group Discussions with Rural Women in Yobe State on Information Services for Community Engagement on Development Issues in Nigeria. Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies, 5(2), 9.
Msughter, A. E., Hile, M. M., & Yar’Adua, S. M. (2023). Ethical Issues and Insecurity in Africa: The Media Dimension. Konfrontasi: Jurnal Kultural, Ekonomi dan Perubahan Sosial, 10(2), 58-68.
Msughter, A. E., Perpetua, A. O., & Itiafa, A. L. (2023). Artificial Intelligence and the Media: Revisiting Digital Dichotomy Theory. In Information Systems Management. IntechOpen.
Omilana, T. (2021). "Nigerians raise alarm over controversial Social Media Bill" www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
Oreoluwa, P. A., Vitalis, P. O., Nneka, A. Q., Collins-Dike, J., & Ridwan, M. (2024). Online Harassment of Female Journalist in Lagos State. Polit Journal Scientific Journal of Politics, 4(3), 162-174.
Owens-Ibie, N., & Aondover, E. M. (2024). Hate postings on social media and peace imperatives in Nigeria. Legal challenges and political strategies in the post-truth era.
Rasmussen, T. (2013). Internet-based media, Europe and the political public sphere. Media, Culture & Society, 35(1), 97–104.
Ratkiewicz, J., Conover, M., Meiss, M., Gonçalves, B., Flammini, A., & Menczer, F. (2011). Detecting and tracking political abuse in social media. In Proceedings of the International AAAI Conference on Web and social media (Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 297-304).
Saint, EJ, Aondover, EM, Ebele, UC, & Onyejelem, TE (2024). Influence of Social Media on Newspaper Patronage among Lecturers in University Of Nigeria, Nsukka. LingLit Journal Scientific Journal for Linguistics and Literature, 5 (3), 142-157.
Singhai, S. (2019). A report on WIPO-CNIPA Training Course on Management and Commercialization of Intellectual Property Assets. 57, pp. 35–37.
Sobkowicz, P. & Sobkowicz, A. (2012). Two-year study of emotion and communication patterns in a highly polarized political discussion forum. Social Science Computer Review, 0(4), 448-469.
Soedarsono, D. K., Mohamad, B., Akanmu, M. D., Putri, I. P., & Khoirunnisa, C., (2020). Political leaders and followers’ attitudes: twitter as a tool for political communication. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7, (8), 1245 – 1252.
Tsegyu, S. & Inobemhe, K. (2021). Social Media Regulation in a Democratic Nigeria: Challenges and Implication. MCC, l(5), 71 – 88.
Turner, J. H. (1986). The Theory of Structuration. American Journal of Sociology. 4 (91), 969-977.
Usman, B., Msughter, A.E., & Olaitan Ridwanullah, A. (2022). Social media literacy: fake news consumption and perception of COVID-19 in Nigeria. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 9(1), 2138011.
Vareba, A.L., Nwinaene, V. P., & Theophilus, S. B., (2017). Internet Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Nigeria. International Journal of Media, Journalism and Mass Communications (IJMJMC), (3)2, 25-30.
Vitalis, P. O., Amadi, R. N., & Whyte, D. H. (2024). Social Construct of Nollywood Films and Ethnocentrism in Southern Nigeria. CINEJ Cinema Journal, 12(2), 152-179.
Vitalis, P. O., Aondover, E. M., Ogunbola, O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Accessing Digital Divide and Implications in Nigeria: The Media Dimension. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 1-12.
Vitalis, P. O., Aondover, E. M., Ogunbola, O., Onyejelem, T. E., & Ridwan, M. (2025). Accessing Digital Divide and Implications in Nigeria: The Media Dimension. Budapest International Research and Critics Institute-Journal (BIRCI-Journal), 8(1), 1-12.
Wagner, K. M., Gray, T. J., & Gainous, J. (2017). Digital information consumption and external political efficacy in Latin America: Does institutional context matter?. Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 14(3), 277-291.
Yar, M. (2018). A failure to regulate? The demands and dilemmas of tackling illegal content and behaviour on social media. International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime, 1(1), 5-20.