TikTok has temporarily restricted access to its LIVE feature for Nigerian users during late-night hours, notifying creators that the move is part of an ongoing investigation to strengthen platform safety.

The restriction began at midnight on Sunday when users received a system notification stating that LIVE sessions would be limited late at night in Nigeria “to ensure the platform remains safe and the community stays protected.” By 11pm, creators noticed that their LIVE tools had been disabled, and affected accounts displayed a “No Access” message. The block lasted until 5am.

Only creators with at least 1,000 followers—those eligible to host LIVE sessions—received the update. Several confirmed that all LIVE activities were inaccessible throughout the night, including the ability to join or watch streams from other countries.

While the sudden blackout disrupted creators’ schedules, TikTok clarified that earnings from previous LIVE sessions and gift balances were unaffected. LIVE access was fully restored on Monday morning, sparking conversations across social media as users speculated about the cause of the temporary ban. Late-night hours remain the most active period for Nigerian streamers who host interactive shows, gaming events, entertainment content, and trend-driven broadcasts that attract significant viewer engagement and virtual gifts.

The development follows TikTok’s recent release of updated safety statistics for West Africa. The platform revealed that in the second quarter of 2025, it took action against millions of LIVE sessions and creators globally for violating its monetisation guidelines. In Nigeria alone, over 49,000 LIVE sessions were banned between April and June for breaching safety rules.

TikTok also reported removing millions of Nigerian videos within the same period for violating Community Guidelines, noting that the vast majority were taken down before gaining views.

TikTok LIVE remains a key feature for real-time engagement, allowing eligible creators to broadcast, earn gifts, and interact directly with their audiences. To access the feature, users typically need at least 1,000 followers, must be 16 or older to go LIVE, and 18 or older to earn through monetisation tools.