The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on Nigerian policymakers to place the protection of digital freedoms at the heart of the country’s cyber laws, warning that security measures should not come at the cost of citizens’ rights.
The call was made on Wednesday in Kano during the 3rd edition of CITAD’s Digital Tech Policy Forum, which examined concerns surrounding the Cybercrime Act and its impact on freedom of expression and civic space. The forum was themed “The Trojan Horse in the Cybercrime Act: Ensuring Digital Rights in the Age of the Cybercrime Conundrum.”
The event brought together policymakers, academics, media practitioners, civil society organisations, and technology experts to review how existing cyber laws affect Nigerians’ online freedoms and everyday digital activities.
Speaking at the forum, CITAD’s Executive Director, Malam Y. Z. Ya’u, represented by Senior Programme Officer Malam Isah Garba, said the initiative was aimed at closing the gap between research, public interest, and policy development.
“Our aim is to ensure that Nigeria’s technology policies are proactive, not reactive,” Ya’u said.
He stressed that meaningful digital governance requires continuous collaboration between government, civil society, and academic institutions to prevent laws that could unintentionally restrict fundamental freedoms.
Also speaking, Barrister Zulaiha Yusuf Gamandi of the Kano NBA Young Lawyers Forum cautioned against using national security as a justification to limit citizens’ digital rights.
“Cyber laws must protect freedom of expression, privacy, and access to information, not suppress them,” she said, adding that lawyers have a duty to educate the public on digital laws and ensure they conform with the Nigerian Constitution.
Similarly, research analyst Abubakar Yahuza Abubakar emphasised the importance of data-driven policymaking, noting that legislation should reflect the real-life experiences of internet users.
He called for stronger collaboration among civil society groups, researchers, and technology experts to craft policies that promote innovation while safeguarding digital freedoms.