By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Nigerian film actor and popular TikTok streamer Jiganbabaoja has expressed deep frustration over TikTok’s newly enforced restriction preventing Nigerian users from going live between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. During a live session on Tuesday morning, he lamented that the policy had disrupted his regular Talkahaton segment, where he showcases his various comedic personalities. He admitted the restriction was painful for genuine creators but acknowledged that it stemmed from the misuse of the platform by some Nigerian users. According to him, the widespread abuse of TikTok’s live features—often described as activities on “TT Street”—played a major role in triggering the tightened measures. He urged his fans to follow him on Kick, an alternative streaming platform where he plans to continue engaging without restrictions.
The hours affected by the ban are typically peak periods for Nigerian streamers who host late-night entertainment shows, viral trend conversations, matchmaking sessions, talent battles, and other interactive content that drive high engagement and virtual gifting. TikTok’s decision comes shortly after the company released updated West Africa safety statistics at the West Africa Safety Summit in Dakar, Senegal. The report showed that in the second quarter of 2025, TikTok took action against more than two million LIVE sessions and over one million LIVE creators globally for violating monetisation rules. In Nigeria alone, 49,512 LIVE sessions were banned within the same period. The platform also removed 3,780,426 videos in Nigeria between April and June 2025 for breaching Community Guidelines, with 98.7% taken down before they were viewed and 91.9% removed within 24 hours.
TikTok LIVE enables creators to broadcast in real-time, interact with viewers, receive comments and virtual gifts, and host Q&As or talent showcases. To access the feature, users are required to have at least 1,000 followers, be at least 16 years old (18+ for monetisation), and maintain a clean account history. As Nigerian creators adjust to the new rules, many—like Jiganbabaoja—are now exploring alternative platforms to sustain their night-time audiences and maintain the interactive sessions that define their online communities.