CITAD, ASF France, S4C Warn of Digital Crackdown in Nigeria
Three civil society organizations under the European Union-funded e-RIGHTS Project have strongly condemned a proposed amendment to the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, describing it as a serious threat to digital freedom and civic space in the country.
In a joint statement signed by Y. Z. Ya’u, Executive Director of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), the organizations—Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France), CITAD, and Spaces for Change (S4C)—voiced concern over provisions in the bill that would require social media platforms to establish physical offices in Nigeria and compel bloggers to register with recognized national associations and operate from physical locations within the country.
The controversial legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms and for Related Matters,” has already passed its first and second readings in the Senate.
“The proposed amendment dangerously extends beyond the scope of data protection,” the e-RIGHTS partners warned. “By attempting to regulate bloggers and compel them to join recognized associations and establish physical offices, the bill threatens the constitutional rights of Nigerians, including the right to freedom of expression, privacy, and association.”
Ya’u emphasized the broader impact the amendment could have on Nigeria’s civic and digital environment. “This legislation risks shrinking our already limited civic and digital space,” he said. “It undermines digital innovation and seeks to impose unnecessary bureaucratic and financial burdens on independent voices.”
The CSOs raised alarm that the bill could be used to silence dissent, limit public discourse, and stifle the work of bloggers and citizen journalists who play a key role in promoting accountability and exposing corruption.
“Independent bloggers and digital creators amplify marginalized voices and hold power to account. This bill, if passed, will stifle that,” the statement read.
They urged the National Assembly to immediately suspend consideration of the bill and initiate broader consultations with civil society groups, digital rights advocates, and the tech community.
The statement also appealed directly to the Nigerian president: “We further request the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to clarify its position on this bill and ensure that any legislative process aligns with democratic values and international best practices.”
Reaffirming their commitment to defending digital rights in Nigeria, the e-RIGHTS Project said it would continue to advocate for an open and inclusive internet.
“The internet must not become a space where only the powerful speak,” Ya’u added. “We must protect it for all.”
The post CITAD, ASF France, S4C Warn of Digital Crackdown in Nigeria appeared first on Kano Times.
