TikTok has temporarily blocked all LIVE streaming in Nigeria between 11 PM and 5 AM local time, effective from midnight Sunday, December 7, 2025.
What happened
– Nigerian users received an in-app notice:
“We’re temporarily limiting LIVE late at night in Nigeria as part of our investigation to ensure our platform remains safe.”
– Both hosting and viewing of any LIVE (local or international) are blocked during these hours.
– The restriction was automatically lifted Monday morning, December 8, but TikTok says it may return while the safety probe continues.
Why it happened
Late-night Nigerian LIVE sessions have seen a sharp rise in explicit sexual content, nudity, and creators pressuring viewers for gifts in exchange for lewd acts.
TikTok revealed at its November 2025 West Africa Safety Summit that between April–June 2025 alone:
– 49,512 LIVE sessions were banned in Nigeria
– 3.78 million videos were removed from the country
– Nigeria now leads global enforcement actions for LIVE violations.
Impact
Late-night hours are peak earning time for thousands of Nigerian creators who rely on virtual gifts. Many lost an entire night’s income with zero notice. Creators and fans took to X and WhatsApp to vent, with some supporting the move for child safety and others calling it “collective punishment.”
TikTok stresses this is a temporary safety measure, not a permanent ban. No Nigerian regulator ordered it; it’s a proactive step by the platform. More updates expected soon.
