Popular Nigerian TikToker Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, has said that the recent ban on TikTok’s late-night livestreams in Nigeria will not affect his income.
He made the statement in a video posted to his Instagram page on Monday, responding to critics who suggested he would struggle financially due to the suspension of late-night live sessions.
Peller said: “People expect me to cry after TikTok was banned live in Nigeria, thinking I will go hungry. I am an ambassador for numerous brands and none of my endorsements are less than N40 million.”
He highlighted that his financial stability comes from multiple partnerships with brands and a digital presence that does not depend solely on TikTok profits. Peller also noted that he regularly gives back to fans, often redistributing gifts received during live streams through giveaways.
Highlighting the role of TikTok in youth empowerment, he said the platform has helped many Nigerian youths grow their audience and income faster than other social media platforms.
He said: “A lot of people will grow on TikTok. You can’t grow on Instagram the same way. Before you get there, you’ll post a lot of things… It’s easier to grow on TikTok.”
Commenting on the ban and previous calls to restrict late-night livestreams, Peller argued that many critics don’t understand the economic impact on emerging creators. “Those girls who want them want to ban TikTok’s late-night livestream, you’ll still be on TikTok every day,” he said, warning that such restrictions could affect the engagement and revenue of thousands of users.
Tribune Online previously reported that TikTok had temporarily restricted access to its LIVE feature during nighttime hours in Nigeria as part of a security investigation.
At midnight on Sunday, Nigerian users received a system notification titled “TikTok LIVE Update in Nigeria,” which read: “We are temporarily limiting LIVE to late night hours in Nigeria as part of our investigation to ensure our platform remains safe and our community is protected.”
The restriction also prevented users from watching LIVE broadcasts from other countries during the restricted hours.
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