Bashir Ahmad, former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has urged for stringent regulation of TikTok to prevent its misuse by criminals. Ahmad argues that the social media platform is enabling dangerous individuals to spread misinformation and propaganda, thereby exacerbating security issues in Nigeria.
In a statement posted on X on August 28, 2024, Ahmad expressed concern that TikTok is being exploited by bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists to engage with the public and defend their criminal activities. He criticized the platform for amplifying the voices of these criminals and giving them a space to propagate their agenda.
Ahmad emphasized that Nigeria needs more rigorous content monitoring and regulation on TikTok to curb this problem. His comments reflect ongoing worries about the platform’s role in enabling and emboldening criminal elements, a situation reminiscent of the government’s previous actions during Buhari’s administration, which included suspending Twitter for 222 days after it removed Buhari’s tweet in June 2021.
