Two prominent civil society organizations, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) and Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders), have issued a stern warning to the Federal Government about the potential dangers of regulating the digital space.
The organizations argue that such regulation would be counterproductive and could hinder Nigeria’s transition into a digital economy. They expressed concern over the government’s contradictory stance of recognizing the potential of digital technology to transform the economy, while simultaneously seeking to control how citizens access and utilize digital resources.
The Executive Director of CITAD, Y.Z Ya’u, highlighted that Nigeria has seen a number of contentious bills introduced in the National Assembly over the past few years, aimed at censoring the digital space. He emphasized the need for the government to foster a safe environment that allows everyone to leverage the digital space in order to drive Nigeria’s digital economy.
They issued the warning in Abuja during the inaugural meeting and training of the Digital Rights Expert Group under the eRIGHTS project in Nigeria implemented by ASF in partnership with CITAD and Spaces for Change, funded by the European Union.
During the event, Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, the Country Director of ASF France Nigeria, emphasized the importance of the government avoiding the implementation of arbitrary laws that could infringe upon or limit human rights in Nigeria.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu suggested that instead of imposing restrictions, the government should collaborate with various developers and technology platforms to ensure that these organizations regulate themselves in accordance with international standards.
She cautioned that any attempts to limit or control social media through the introduction of harsh laws and policies could directly affect Nigerians’ freedom of expression. She underscored the importance of the National Assembly refraining from passing such harsh legislation.
The organizations stressed that arbitrary legislation that infringes on or restricts human rights in Nigeria should not be implemented. They urged the government to consider the broader implications of such actions on the country’s digital future.