By By Elizabeth Ugbo
A new report released on May 4, 2026, by COLUMN has revealed a growing digital disconnect between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet and Nigerians. The report examined the online presence of 51 cabinet ministers across X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. It found that ministers collectively control only 19.3 million followers despite Nigeria’s population of over 236 million and its active online culture. The report warned that poor digital engagement weakens transparency, citizen trust and public communication.
Tinubu Dominates Cabinet’s Online Visibility
According to the report, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu leads the administration’s digital presence with 4.5 million followers. His audience represents 26.6 per cent of the cabinet’s total social media followership.
He is followed by:
- Femi Gbajabiamila — 1.6 million followers
- Muhammad Ali Pate — 1.46 million followers
- Festus Keyamo — 1.37 million followers
- Nyesom Wike — 1.33 million followers
Combined, these officials account for more than 60 per cent of the cabinet’s total online audience.
Several Ministers Remain Digitally Invisible
The report revealed that many ministers maintain weak or inactive social media accounts. Furthermore, two cabinet members reportedly have no online presence across major platforms.
Several others attract fewer than 500 followers. Consequently, analysts believe the government risks losing connection with young Nigerians who rely heavily on digital platforms for news, civic participation and political engagement.
COLUMN noted that many ministerial accounts appear outdated, poorly managed or limited to ceremonial posts.
Bosun Tijani Missing From Top Rankings
One of the report’s most surprising findings involved Bosun Tijani. Despite overseeing Nigeria’s digital economy and innovation policies, he failed to rank among the top five most-followed cabinet officials.
The report argued that stronger digital leadership should come from ministries directly responsible for communications, youth development and public information.
Hannatu Musawa Emerges as Most Active Across Platforms
The report identified Hannatu Musawa as the only cabinet member with active visibility across all five major social media platforms.
COLUMN described her digital strategy as a practical example of modern public communication. The firm added that ministers should focus on authentic and consistent engagement rather than online popularity.
X Remains Nigeria Government’s Dominant Platform
The platform breakdown revealed sharp differences in digital participation among ministers.
According to the report:
- X accounts for 9.4 million combined followers
- Facebook contributes 4.8 million followers
- Instagram records 2.1 million followers
- Only seven ministers actively use TikTok
- Just 17 ministers maintain active LinkedIn accounts
The report stressed that TikTok and LinkedIn remain underutilised despite their growing influence among young professionals and policy audiences.
Experts Warn of Growing Youth Disconnect
Reacting to the findings, Aisha Bola Rasaki criticised the cabinet’s weak online engagement.
According to her, the trend exposes a dangerous communication gap between government officials and citizens, especially young Nigerians.
She explained that social media now drives political conversations, accountability campaigns, economic opportunities and civic participation. Therefore, ministers who remain digitally absent risk appearing disconnected from public realities.
“You cannot govern a digitally active generation with analogue communication strategies,” she said.
She also warned that poor digital communication allows misinformation to spread more easily. In addition, she argued that inaccessible leadership reduces public trust and weakens policy acceptance.
Analysts Call for Stronger Digital Governance
Governance experts believe Nigeria’s leaders must modernise public communication strategies. They argued that governance now extends beyond official briefings and press conferences.
Instead, citizens increasingly expect leaders to communicate directly, respond quickly and remain visible online.
COLUMN maintained that ministers do not need to become social media celebrities. However, the firm stressed that public officials must remain intentionally present on digital platforms.
“Ministers don’t need to be everywhere, but they need to be somewhere and they must be present with purpose,” the report concluded.
Nigeria’s Digital Future Demands Accessible Leadership
Nigeria has one of Africa’s youngest and most digitally active populations. Millions of citizens spend hours daily online discussing governance, elections, entertainment and national issues.
Consequently, analysts warn that leaders who remain digitally invisible may struggle to maintain political relevance and public trust in the coming years.
The report concluded that digital accessibility, transparency and engagement have become essential parts of modern governance.
