Meta Admits Error After FIJ Nigeria Ban

Meta has restored the Facebook page of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism and Social Justice (FIJ), admitting that its suspension was an error.

The page was taken down last Sunday after Meta flagged it for “cybersecurity” concerns. Users trying to access the account were met with a message claiming that FIJ Nigeria had breached community rules. But on Friday, Meta reversed the decision. “We found that our technology made a mistake suspending your page,” the company said in a message to FIJ. “Our priority is keeping the community safe and respectful, so sometimes we have to take precautions.”

Press Freedom Under Pressure

The suspension lasted five days, during which FIJ pushed for an urgent review. Meta’s guidelines state that restoration requests are typically resolved within four days, but the process concluded only at the end of the week.

This was not the first time FIJ faced disruption in its reporting. On Tuesday, FIJ Senior Reporter Sodiq Atanda was detained for 11 hours by the Ekiti State Police Command after honouring an invitation tied to his reporting on sexual misconduct allegations against Abayomi Fasina, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti.

Earlier in August, FIJ’s website also went offline after a cyberattack traced to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) headquarters. FIJ said NIMC has neither apologised nor explained why a government agency was linked to such an attack on a public-interest newsroom.

Broader Questions for Meta

The episode has sparked debate about Meta’s moderation system and its impact on journalism. Although the company said the suspension was a mistake, press freedom advocates worry that such “errors” can easily silence critical voices, especially in countries where investigative journalism often faces pushback.

Analysts suggest that big tech companies like Meta must invest in more transparent systems for managing sensitive accounts. At a time when journalism is already under strain in Nigeria, critics argue that sudden platform restrictions, even if temporary, risk eroding public trust in both media and technology.