REPORT OF A WEBINAR ON RISING DIGITAL RIGHTS ABUSES IN NIGERIA ORGANIZED BY THE CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (CITAD)
Date: 6th November, 2025
Venue: Online
As Nigeria’s digital ecosystem expands, concerns about violations of digital rights, particularly freedom of expression and online civic participation continue to intensify. In response to the rising cases of harassment, intimidation, censorship, and arrests targeting online activists and journalists, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) hosted a webinar titled “Freedom Under Fire: The Rising Clampdown on Online Critics and Journalists in Nigeria.” The webinar examined the structural, legal, and political drivers behind this clampdown, assessed the role of regulatory institutions, and explored strategies for safeguarding digital freedoms.
The session drew participation from journalists, civil society actors, lawyers, digital rights advocates, students, and members of the public. 
In his welcome remarks, the Executive Director of CITAD, Mal. YZ Ya’u represented by the Centre’s Digital Rights Lead, Ali Sabo emphasized the urgency of defending digital freedoms amid an increasingly restrictive digital environment. He highlighted the need for continued advocacy and stakeholder collaboration and introduced the speakers and moderator.
The panel was moderated by Mr. Jack Vincent. The speakers were Barr. Hussaini Hussaini, Managing Counsel at Eastward Legal Services and a cyber law expert, and Mustapha Bulama, renowned editorial cartoonist with Daily Trust Newspaper.
Barr. Hussaini opened the conversation with an overview of digital rights, which he described as extensions of constitutionally guaranteed rights into online spaces. These include freedom of expression, privacy, access to information, and online participation. He noted that despite constitutional protections, digital rights in Nigeria are frequently undermined through conflicting legislation, inconsistent regulatory practices, and overreach by institutions such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). He explained that while citizens are expected to exhaust institutional complaint mechanisms before seeking legal redress, the weakness of these mechanisms often perpetuates rights violations. He emphasized the importance of legislative reform, strategic litigation, public sensitization, and stronger collaboration among journalists, lawyers, civil society groups, and activists.
Mr. Mustapha Bulama provided insights into the lived experiences of media practitioners whose work critiques governance. He highlighted the power of cartoons in shaping public opinion and noted that this often attracts backlash from political actors. He shared instances where his cartoons were reported, leading to temporary suspension of his social media accounts. According to him, the growing climate of intimidation fuels self-censorship among journalists and creatives, weakening democratic accountability.
During the panel discussion, participants reflected on the weaponization of laws designed to regulate digital spaces and how these laws are increasingly used to target dissenting voices. The conversation also examined the democratic consequences of suppressing online expression, the limited legal remedies available to victims of digital rights violations, and the need to strengthen solidarity networks for journalists and activists. The panel agreed that the clampdown on online expression is a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic process and must be addressed through coordinated advocacy, policy engagement, and legal interventions.
Recommendations:
- Strengthen advocacy campaigns and public awareness on digital rights.
- Review and amend laws that conflict with constitutional protections.
- Build stronger solidarity networks for journalists and digital activists.
- Expand access to pro-bono legal services and public interest litigation.
- Encourage citizens to understand and defend their digital rights.
The webinar highlighted the escalating threats to digital freedoms in Nigeria and underscored the need for collective action to defend the civic digital space. Participants reaffirmed the importance of legal reform, collaborative advocacy, and sustained engagement to protect freedom of expression and online civic participation. The session ended with a call for renewed commitment from all stakeholders to safeguard Nigeria’s digital environment and ensure that democratic rights are upheld online and offline