A difference in verification badges on X has raised questions about how Nigerian government institutions establish their official identities online, particularly agencies responsible for capital market regulation and public debt management.
A comparison of the accounts identified in this report shows President Bola Tinubu’s account, @officialABAT, and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s account, @cenbank, carrying grey checkmarks, while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), @SECNigeria, and the Debt Management Office (DMO), @DMONigeria, lacks the same designation.
The difference does not, by itself, establish that the SEC or DMO has failed to apply for verification, that X has delayed an application, or that either institution has breached a regulatory requirement. However, it highlights the importance of clear and consistent identification of official government accounts on social media.
X’s verification system changed significantly after Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022. The platform subsequently introduced subscription-based verification and separate identification markers for different categories of accounts.
According to X’s Help Center, a grey checkmark identifies an account representing an eligible government or multilateral organisation or official. A blue checkmark, by contrast, indicates an active X Premium subscription and compliance with the platform’s applicable eligibility requirements. It does not, on its own, establish that the account holder’s identity has been independently verified.
X’s current documentation also describes Premium Organizations, a paid service through which eligible government bodies and multilateral organisations can obtain grey checkmarks and manage affiliated accounts. Government entities must provide the required official account, email and website information and undergo the platform’s review process.
These rules mean that government status alone should not be treated as proof that an account has completed X’s verification process. Nor does the absence of a grey badge establish that an account is ineligible.
Impersonation remains a documented concern
The distinction matters for Nigerian investors and members of the public who rely on social media for official announcements, regulatory warnings and financial information.
On July 5, 2024, the SEC published a scammer alert warning that fraudsters were impersonating its Director-General, Emomotimi Agama, to obtain personal information and solicit unauthorised payments.
The commission said neither the director-general nor its staff would request personal investment information through private phone lines, emails or social media accounts. It advised the public to verify the identity of anyone contacting them and to reach the commission directly if uncertain.
The warning demonstrates that impersonation is a real concern, although it does not establish that the absence of an X grey checkmark caused the reported scams.
For the DMO, which is responsible for managing Nigeria’s public debt, clear identification of official communication channels is also important when the public seeks information about government borrowing and sovereign debt instruments. False announcements circulated through impersonating accounts could mislead users, making independent confirmation through official channels essential.
A verification badge can help users distinguish eligible official accounts, but it cannot eliminate impersonation or guarantee the accuracy of every post. Users should continue to cross-check financial announcements against official websites and other established communication channels.
The status of any outstanding verification applications by the SEC or DMO has not been established in the information available for this report. X’s published guidance sets out its eligibility and application procedures but does not establish whether either Nigerian agency has a pending application.
The immediate priority is therefore not to assume administrative failure, but to establish the current verification status of the two agencies and encourage consistent identification of official government accounts across social media platforms.
