Terms of Use

1. Who we are

BenueConnect (“we”, “us”, the “Service”) is an independent social and community platform for Benue State, Nigeria, operated by the BenueConnect team (“the Operator”). BenueConnect is not owned or operated by the Benue State Government or any political party. Government bodies use the Service as verified Official accounts under these terms.

2. Eligibility and accounts

2.1 You must be at least 13 years old to use the Service. If you are under 18, you confirm that a parent or guardian consents to your use.

2.2 You must provide your real name, a working phone number or email address that you control, and accurate information about your connection to Benue (LGA, ward, home LGA, chapter). You may hold one personal account. Organisations may hold one account per organisation, operated by an authorised person.

2.3 Your account is active only after your phone number or email is confirmed. You are responsible for keeping your password confidential and for all activity under your account. Tell us immediately if you suspect unauthorised access.

2.4 You may not create an account to impersonate any person, business, community or public body, or to evade a suspension.

3. Your content

3.1 You own the content you post (text, photos, videos, listings, comments). You grant the Operator a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to host, store, reproduce, display, adapt (for formatting) and distribute that content on the Service for the purpose of operating and promoting the Service. This licence ends when you delete the content or your account, except where it has been shared by others or we are required to retain it by law.

3.2 You are responsible for your content and must have the rights to post it. Do not post content that infringes someone else’s rights or contains their private information without consent.

3.3 Content posted to public communities, the Public Square, the directory, the marketplace, events and opportunities is public and may be viewed by visitors who are not logged in.

4. Acceptable use

You agree to follow the Community Standards, which form part of these terms. In particular you must not:

• post hate speech, ethnic or religious incitement, threats, harassment or sexual content;
• publish false or misleading information, fabricated official notices, fake opportunities or fraudulent fundraisers;
• impersonate any person, business or public body, or misrepresent your affiliation;
• use the Service for fraud, scams, sale of prohibited goods or any unlawful purpose;
• send spam, scrape or harvest data, or access the Service by automated means without permission;
• interfere with the security or operation of the Service, or attempt to access other users’ accounts.

5. Verification and Official accounts

5.1 Verification badges (Verified, Official) indicate that we have reviewed documents supporting an account’s identity or authority at the time of review. They are not an endorsement, guarantee or warranty of the account holder’s conduct, goods or services.

5.2 Official status is reserved for government ministries, agencies and local government councils and comparable public bodies, granted only after confirmation with the institution. We may revoke any badge at any time if the basis for it no longer holds or these terms are breached.

5.3 Official accounts are responsible for the accuracy of their publications. The Operator does not author or approve official notices, consultations or alerts and is not liable for their content.

6. Marketplace, opportunities and fundraisers

6.1 The Service enables members to list products, opportunities, events and fundraisers and to contact one another. The Operator is not a party to any transaction, employment relationship or donation between members, does not hold funds on their behalf, and does not guarantee the quality, safety, legality or delivery of anything listed.

6.2 Listings must be accurate, lawful and yours to offer. Opportunities must not require applicants to pay a fee. Fundraisers must be for the stated purpose and honest about their beneficiaries.

6.3 Payments made through any integrated payment provider are subject to that provider’s terms.

7. Moderation and enforcement

7.1 We may review, remove or restrict content and accounts that breach these terms or the Community Standards, or where required by law, with or without notice. Actions range from removal and warnings to loss of verification, temporary restriction or permanent suspension.

7.2 You may appeal a moderation decision through the Help & Trust Centre. We may report unlawful conduct to the relevant authorities.

8. Intellectual property

The BenueConnect name, logo, design and software are owned by the Operator or its licensors and may not be used without permission. Nothing in these terms grants you rights in them beyond normal use of the Service.

9. Disclaimers and limitation of liability

9.1 The Service is provided “as is”. We work to keep it available, accurate and secure but do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation, or the accuracy of content posted by members or institutions.

9.2 To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Operator is not liable for indirect or consequential loss, or for loss arising from content or conduct of other users, transactions between members, or reliance on information published on the Service. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.

10. Changes, termination and governing law

10.1 We may update these terms. Material changes will be announced on the Service; continued use after the effective date means you accept the new terms.

10.2 You may close your account at any time in Settings. We may suspend or terminate accounts that breach these terms.

10.3 These terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Benue State, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer-protection rights.

10.4 Questions about these terms: see Contact us. Our handling of personal data is described in the Privacy Policy.