The Nigerian government has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to X.com (formerly Twitter) to take down a tweet by activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, which it described as anti-government, false, and a threat to national security.
In a strongly worded letter dated September 6, 2025, and signed by Mr. B. Bamigboye on behalf of the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the government claimed that the tweet in question insults President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and misleads the public.
The letter, addressed to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of X.com, headquartered in Bastrop County, Texas, USA, accused Sowore of posting content that could incite violence, spread falsehood, and damage the country’s image internationally.
“This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
According to the DSS, this message is more than just criticism. It described the tweet as “misleading information, online harassment and abuse, with the willful intention of furthering an ideology capable of serious harm.” It also argued that the tweet has the potential to cause disunity, spark hate speech, and discredit the Nigerian President on the global stage.
The DSS stated that Sowore’s tweet violates several Nigerian laws, including:
Section 51 of the Criminal Code Act Cap 77, which prohibits the publication of false information.
Sections 19, 22, and 24 of the Cybercrime Act 2025, which criminalise the sharing of fake news, vulgar content, and online statements that provoke ethnic, religious, or tribal hatred.
Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, which deals with actions and statements capable of threatening national security.
The security agency warned that both the author of the post (Sowore) and the platform that allowed it (X.com) could be held criminally liable if the tweet is not taken down.
The DSS instructed X.com to delete the tweet and all related retweets within 24 hours of receiving the notice. Failure to comply, the letter warned, could lead to what it called “far-reaching, sweeping, and across-the-board measures” by the Nigerian government.
“This demand is unequivocal and comes with consequences. If you fail, neglect, or refuse to comply with this notice, the Federal Government of Nigeria will be compelled to act,” the letter stated.
It added, “24 hours are sufficient enough to take necessary action.”
As of the time of filing this report, it is not yet clear whether X.com has responded to the Nigerian government’s letter or taken any action on the tweet.
Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and a vocal critic of successive Nigerian governments, is known for his blunt style of activism. He has run for president and is currently a member of the African Action Congress (AAC). His online posts often target high-ranking officials, including the current administration.
President Bola Tinubu, who made the controversial statement in Brazil claiming that corruption in Nigeria had ended under his leadership, has faced criticism from various quarters. Many Nigerians have argued that corruption remains widespread in the country, with little visible improvement in governance or accountability.
The Federal Government, however, maintains that it is making efforts to fight corruption through reforms and digital tools for transparency.
This latest clash between Sowore and the government highlights the growing tension between free speech and state control in the digital space. With over 33 million Nigerians using social media, platforms like X.com have become powerful tools for political expression, but also a battleground for regulation and censorship.
Barrister Chika Nwokedi, a Lagos-based lawyer, said: “While no one supports hate speech or misinformation, classifying a critical tweet as terrorism is a serious stretch. The government must be careful not to use national security as a cover to silence dissent.”
With the 24-hour deadline ticking, attention is now on how X.com will respond to the Nigerian government’s demand. The outcome may shape how social media platforms handle content that governments label as dangerous.
