Defending Digital Rights in Nigeria
Challenge
Poor transparency and accountability indices and rising restrictions to free speech and participation threaten to undermine Nigeria’s civic space. In 2021, Nigeria banned social networking platform, Twitter, in a veiled attempt to undermine free digital expression. Around the same time, the Nigerian parliament had made several attempts to censor social media, while the President declined assent to the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill. Although Nigeria has a progressive federal Freedom of Information (FOI) law that mandates government transparency, the law has suffered weak implementation and strong opposition at the sub-national level. Among other major threats to Nigeria’s civic space include the 2015 Cybercrimes Act, a law that has been weaponized against journalists and activists.
Approach
Gatefield formed the Digital Rights and Information Partnership (DRIP), an advocacy cluster comprising local media, civil society organisations, and technology startups. The cluster worked on the federal and subnational levels in three Nigerian states– Kaduna, Edo, and Adamawa states.
- Conducted a political economy analysis to uncover the political, social, and economic factors and factors influencing digital rights and freedom of information policies
- Provided strategic support to cluster members to help them navigate stakeholder engagement and develop high-impact advocacy campaigns.
- Developed high-level policy papers enhancing stakeholder understanding of the issues and proposed policies.
- Trained and equipped journalists to report on digital rights issues, providing them access to knowledge resources and experts.
- Convened civil society partners and the relevant Senate committees to build consensus towards the revision of the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill.
- Launched digital campaigns to raise awareness of threats to digital rights and freedoms, particularly unconstitutional provisions of the Cybercrimes Act.
Results
- Secured an amendment to Section 24 of the Nigerian Cybercrimes Act 2015, removing repressive language from the legislation in the amended 2024 Act.
- Secured legislative sponsorship, leading to the presentation of a domestic Freedom of Information bill in Adamawa State.
- Recorded a significant increase in reporting on digital rights, resulting in greater public engagement and a successful pushback against abuse of the Cybercrime Act by powerful institutions.
- Mobilized a local civil society coalition led by the Nigerian Union of Journalists to present a draft Freedom of Information Act to the Governor of Edo State.
- Secured high-level political commitment from the Kaduna state governor to pass the bill through the constitution of a joint executive and legislative committee to review contentious areas of the bill.
