Nigeria facing challenges in protection of digital right — CITAD
Kola Oyelere Kano
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD),’s Digital Rights Officer, Ali Sabo, has said that the protection of digital rights has become increasingly important worldwide, with Nigeria facing rising challenges in the area.
He observed that violations — often committed by both state and non-state actors — have become common, frequently targeting journalists, dissenting voices, and opposition figures. While the Cybercrime Act of 2015 was originally intended to tackle cyber-related offences, Sabo warned that it is sometimes used to suppress freedom of expression and silence criticism online.
According to him,” Beyond legal restrictions, the country’s digital space is also grappling with issues such as online gender-based violence, misinformation, fake news, and other forms of digital abuse — some with devastating consequences, including loss of life through suicide.”
“Protecting digital rights is inseparable from safeguarding broader human freedoms, such as freedom of expression, association, movement, and access to information, both online and offline,” Sabo stressed.
He stated that Nigeria’s rapid transition into a technology-driven future — shaped by Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and robotics — makes it even more critical for the judiciary to uphold citizens’ rights in the digital environment.
“The right to the internet is no longer a privilege; it is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed to all,” he said.
He made this remark during his speech at the partnership with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), at conclusion of a two-day capacity-building training for 20 legal practitioners — comprising 10 lawyers and 10 magistrate court judges from Kano State — to strengthen their ability to address emerging issues around digital rights in Nigeria.
According to him,”The training, held on Thursday and Friday, focused on equipping participants with the knowledge and practical skills to understand, interpret, and safeguard digital rights within the country’s legal framework.
He noted that ” The rght to the internet is no longer a privilege; it is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed to all,”
Sabo also called for greater accountability from major technology companies, especially in the Global South, urging stronger legal frameworks to ensure compliance. He cited ongoing discussions between the Nigerian government and Meta (Facebook’s parent company) as an example of the need for these companies to maintain a physical presence in the country for effective redress when rights are violated.
He concluded by noting that CITAD’s interventions go beyond public awareness campaigns, providing free legal support to victims of digital rights violations.
He urged the judiciary to play a more active role in recognising, reporting, and adjudicating such cases to help build a safer and more rights-respecting digital space in Nigeria.