By Chimezie Godfrey
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has raised serious concerns over what it described as the worsening state of digital rights observance at the state and local government levels across Nigeria, warning that unchecked abuses could undermine democracy and civic participation.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the unveiling of a Policy Brief on the State of Digital Rights Observance at the State Level in Nigeria, Digital Rights Lead, CITAD, Ali Sabo said state governments were increasingly tolerating, and in some cases enabling, violations of citizens’ digital freedoms.
According to him, several cases of arrests, detention and harassment of citizens for expressing opinions online have been recorded across Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Katsina and Kwara states in the last six months.
“Citizens are being arrested and detained simply for criticising public officials online. This reflects a growing culture of intolerance, abuse of power and the weaponisation of law enforcement agencies at the grassroots,”Sabo said.
He cited the arrest of Comrade Abiyo Roni in Jigawa State for criticising a local government chairman on social media, as well as the detention of Kwara-based blogger, Ajala Adeshina Shuaib, following allegations of defamation after he criticised a senator.
In Kano State, Sabo noted that CITAD documented cases involving Murtala Garba Doka, Shamsu Safiyanu Lambu and Zakariyya Kabeer Gwagwarwa, a serving corps member arrested on the alleged directive of a political office holder.
Beyond government actions, CITAD also highlighted growing digital rights violations among private individuals, including cases of unauthorised use of images, privacy breaches and online harassment, particularly against women and minors.
“Digital rights are fundamental human rights. As Nigeria becomes more digital, failure to protect these rights at the state and local levels poses a serious threat to democracy, innovation and development,” Sabo warned.
CITAD called on state governments to domesticate federal digital rights and data protection policies, stop arrests over online expression, train law enforcement and judicial officers, and align state regulations with global best practices.