CITAD Raises Alarm Over Worsening Digital Rights Abuses in Nigeria
…Launches Policy Brief on the State of Digital Rights Situation at the State Level
By Mustapha Salisu
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has raised concern over the growing disregard for digital rights observance across state and local government levels in Nigeria, describing the situation as alarming and detrimental to democracy.
Addressing journalists during a press conference held today at Centre’s Kano Office, CITAD’s Digital Rights Lead, Ali Sabo, said the organisation’s newly released Policy Brief on the State of Digital Rights Observance at the State Level documented a disturbing trend of abuses where citizens are arrested, detained, or harassed for expressing opinions online.
He cited several incidents across the northern region, including the arrest of Comrade Abiyo Roni in Jigawa State for criticising his local government chairman, and Ajala Adeshina Shuaib, a blogger in Kwara State, detained for allegedly defaming a senator.
Similar cases were reported in Kano involving Murtala Garba Doka, Shamsu Safiyanu Lambu, and Zakariyya Kabeer Gwagwarwa, a corps member allegedly detained on the order of a political figure.
“These are not isolated incidents. They reflect a growing culture of intolerance to criticism, abuse of power, and the weaponisation of law enforcement agencies to silence dissent especially at the grassroots level” Sabo said.
He also highlighted violations perpetrated by private individuals due to low awareness of digital rights while recounting cases such as the non-consensual recording of a minor at a family event, which led to psychological trauma, and the unauthorised use of a woman’s image in a commercial advertisement in Kano.
Sabo expressed concern over the increasing cases of online harassment and non-consensual sharing of intimate images, particularly targeting women and girls, some of which have resulted in fatalities after online interactions.
He lamented that despite the growing frequency of such violations, many are not treated as digital rights issues by law enforcement or the judiciary due to poor understanding and lack of capacity.
Sabo explained that most capacity-building initiatives on digital rights are concentrated in Abuja and Lagos, leaving state and local authorities poorly equipped to handle these emerging challenges.
He therefore urged state governments to take full responsibility for safeguarding digital rights, emphasising that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), though not explicitly mentioned in Nigeria’s Constitution, fall under the Concurrent Legislative List, which grants states a role in their governance.
“There is need for measures to be put in place including the domestication of federal digital rights and data protection policies, the development of state-level digital rights frameworks especially for emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and the harmonisation of existing state laws to align with global digital rights standards” He added.
Sabo also appealed to law enforcement agencies to respect citizens’ rights online, comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and desist from unlawful arrests tied to social media activities.
He further called on civil society groups and the media to expand digital rights advocacy beyond Abuja and Lagos, ensure ethical media practices, and strengthen public awareness on digital privacy and freedom of expression.
“Digital rights are not optional privileges. They are fundamental human rights that underpin democracy, accountability, innovation, and development. As Nigeria becomes increasingly digital, failure to protect these rights especially at the subnational level poses a serious threat to our collective future” Sabo added.
The Digital ari reaffirmed its commitment to documenting abuses, supporting victims, engaging policymakers, and advocating for a safe, inclusive, and rights-respecting digital environment in Nigeria.
