TikTok Access Disrupted in Northern Nigeria as Users in Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto Turn to VPNs

TikTok users in parts of Northern Nigeria have been experiencing persistent difficulties accessing the platform, with reports from Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and other states indicating that the app has become difficult or almost impossible to use on some regular mobile networks.

The disruption reportedly began around September 14, 2026, with affected users complaining that videos fail to load, feeds freeze while scrolling and uploads stall.

Several users have also reported that TikTok becomes accessible after switching to a Virtual Private Network (VPN), raising questions about whether the problem is related to network routing, a technical fault or a deliberate restriction.

Some users have reported similar problems with TikTok’s mobile web version, suggesting that the issue may not be limited to the app itself.

However, there is currently no official confirmation that the Nigerian Government ordered a restriction on TikTok.

The Nigerian Communications Commission has not publicly announced a TikTok shutdown or regional restriction, while no telecommunications operator or TikTok has publicly explained the reported disruption. Reports reviewed by TheNaijaWide also have not established a government directive behind the problem.

The situation has nevertheless triggered speculation among users, particularly because the reported disruption is concentrated in parts of Northern Nigeria rather than appearing to affect the entire country.

The timing has also generated political discussion online, with some users questioning whether the disruption could be connected to the growing use of TikTok for political communication ahead of the 2027 general election.

One such view is that the disruption could be intended to limit the spread of political content, including songs and videos associated with political figures such as Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso.

There is, however, no verified evidence currently linking the TikTok disruption to an attempt by the government to suppress Obi-Kwankwaso-related content. That remains speculation unless an official directive, technical evidence or credible investigation establishes such a connection.

The fact that VPN access restores TikTok for some affected users does provide evidence that the problem may involve the route through which users’ internet traffic reaches the platform. It does not by itself establish who is responsible for the disruption.

The reports are also occurring against a broader backdrop of intermittent telecommunications problems in Nigeria. The NCC’s incident records, for example, show a nationwide 9mobile data outage on September 24 that affected several services and states, including Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto, although the incident was subsequently marked resolved. That outage does not explain the TikTok-specific disruption that users say began earlier on September 14.

Nigeria has previously imposed a nationwide social media restriction. In 2021, the Federal Government suspended access to Twitter, now known as X, following a dispute with the platform. The current TikTok situation, however, has not been officially identified as a similar government-ordered restriction.

For now, the cause of the Northern Nigeria TikTok disruption remains unclear.

Affected users are calling for an explanation from the relevant authorities and telecommunications companies, particularly as the platform has become an important channel for news, entertainment, business promotion, political communication and content creation.

Until an official explanation or independent technical evidence emerges, claims that the government is deliberately restricting TikTok to stop the spread of particular political messages should be treated as unverified.