Abuja: Stakeholders at the second Enhancing Digital Rights (e-Rights) in Nigeria Situation Room Dialogue held in Abuja have called for urgent reforms, stronger accountability, and increased public awareness to secure Nigerians’ digital rights ahead of the next electoral cycle.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the high-level forum, convened by Avocats Sans Fronti¨res France (ASF France) with support from the European Union (EU) and Lille Avocats Solidarit©, drew government representatives, civil society, media, academia, and development partners to chart practical measures for safeguarding citizens online.
Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, Country Director of ASF France, emphasized the need for ‘short-term actionable recommendations’ to strengthen the protection of rights online. A key outcome was the call for ‘specialised courts’ to expedite fundamental rights cases, particularly digital violations. Uzoma-Iwuchukwu highlighted the necessity of dedicated courts to prioritize digital rights cases while cautioning against state-backed surveillance and censorship.
Representing the EU, Wynyfred Achu-Egbuson, Programme Manager for Civil Society and Youths, emphasized shared responsibility among stakeholders. Achu-Egbuson urged the media to focus on awareness, civil society on capacity building, and government agencies on transparency and citizen engagement.
From the civil society perspective, Professor Yunusa Ya’U, Executive Director of CITAD, called for stronger advocacy to clarify digital policies and genuine partnerships with the government. He warned about the dangers of poor digital literacy, which leaves citizens vulnerable to cybercrime. Ya’U also stressed the importance of setting national standards for child safety online.
Dr. Abiodun Odusote, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Lagos, stressed the need for Nigeria to harmonize its over 40 digital laws and empower institutions like the National Data Protection Commission (NDPC). He called for accessible complaint systems and emphasized the importance of holding the government accountable.
Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), called for a national coordinating body on digital rights accountability. She urged citizens to curb misinformation, fraud, and cyberbullying and highlighted the absence of legal safeguards for child protection online.
Dr. Quasim Akinreti, Head of Digital Media at Voice of Nigeria, stressed the importance of responsible use of digital rights and cautioned against recklessness online. Youth voices, represented by Excel Ekere, a 300-level undergraduate intern, underscored the need for robust digital education to prepare children for safe online interactions.
In their closing commitments, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre pledged support for advancing and protecting digital rights. The dialogue reinforced the message that Nigeria’s digital future depends on collective responsibility, government reforms, civil society advocacy, media awareness, citizen vigilance, youth education, and international partnerships.