Can TikTok Decide What Northern Nigeria Gets to See? A Lawsuit Wants Answers

Imagine opening TikTok and nothing loads. No videos. No uploads. No comments. Then you call a friend in Lagos and their app works perfectly.

That has been reality for TikTok users in four northern states since mid-September. Now the matter is in court.

What happened

Users in Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto began reporting problems around September 11. By September 14, according to court documents, the app was heavily restricted or completely unusable in those states. Videos would not load, feeds would not refresh, and posting, liking and reposting stopped working. Some users have turned to VPNs to get back online.

The lawsuit

On October 5, the Foundation for Digital Justice and Sustainable Development filed a fundamental rights case against TikTok at the Federal High Court in Abuja. It argues that cutting off users in four states while everyone else keeps access violates two constitutional rights: freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination.

The foundation wants the court to order TikTok to restore access, block any similar restriction without lawful justification, and publish a public apology in three national newspapers.

TikTok says it was not them

On October 12, TikTok's head of communications for Sub-Saharan Africa, Keagile Makgoba, said the restriction was not implemented by TikTok and that the company is working with stakeholders to resolve it.

That raises the obvious question: if TikTok did not switch it off, who did? So far, nobody has publicly explained the cause. The Nigeria Network of NGOs has asked the NCC, telecom operators and TikTok to publish an independent investigation naming the affected networks, the cause, how long it lasted and whether any official directive was behind it.

Why this matters beyond TikTok

For many people in the north, TikTok is not just entertainment. Traders find customers on it. Creators earn from it. Journalists and activists use it to reach audiences. Losing access for weeks without explanation hits livelihoods, not just leisure.

The case could also set a precedent. If a Nigerian court rules that a platform or network must justify cutting off a region, every app operating in Nigeria will have to take notice. If the cause turns out to be a network or government decision, the questions shift to transparency and who has the power to switch off a region's internet services.

We will update this story as the case moves forward. Are you in one of the affected states? Tell us whether TikTok is working for you now.

Sources: TechCabal and The Star and THEWILL