Turning the misuse of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act into a national demand for democratic reform
Turning the misuse of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act into a national demand for democratic reform
USAID
USAID
1 min read
1 min read
Section 24 of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act became one of the country’s most widely used tools for policing online speech. Through broad and ambiguous provisions around “cyberstalking”, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens faced arrests, intimidation and legal threats over digital expressions. What began as a technical legal concern evolved into a growing civic crisis, but public understanding of the issue remained limited and fragmented.
Section 24 of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act became one of the country’s most widely used tools for policing online speech. Through broad and ambiguous provisions around “cyberstalking”, journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens faced arrests, intimidation and legal threats over digital expressions. What began as a technical legal concern evolved into a growing civic crisis, but public understanding of the issue remained limited and fragmented.
Gatefield launched the #AmendSection24 campaign to shift the conversation from a niche legal debate into a nationally understood democratic issue. The campaign aimed to build sustained public pressure for reform while strengthening broader public understanding of digital rights, free expression, and civic participation.
At the center of the campaign was storytelling. Gatefield convened a coalition of journalists, activists, civic actors, and public champions to humanize the consequences of digital repression and move the issue beyond legal and policy circles.
Gatefield launched the #AmendSection24 campaign to shift the conversation from a niche legal debate into a nationally understood democratic issue. The campaign aimed to build sustained public pressure for reform while strengthening broader public understanding of digital rights, free expression, and civic participation.
At the center of the campaign was storytelling. Gatefield convened a coalition of journalists, activists, civic actors, and public champions to humanize the consequences of digital repression and move the issue beyond legal and policy circles.
We commissioned a documentary on ARISE News profiling the experience of Chioma Okoli, an ordinary citizen prosecuted under Section 24, making visible the real human cost of the law’s misuse. Through screenings and stakeholder engagements involving civil society organizations, media actors, influencers, and policymakers, the campaign transformed Section 24 from an abstract legal provision into a nationally understood civic and democratic issue.
We commissioned a documentary on ARISE News profiling the experience of Chioma Okoli, an ordinary citizen prosecuted under Section 24, making visible the real human cost of the law’s misuse. Through screenings and stakeholder engagements involving civil society organizations, media actors, influencers, and policymakers, the campaign transformed Section 24 from an abstract legal provision into a nationally understood civic and democratic issue.
To build momentum for reform, Gatefield convened civil society organisations, digital rights groups, media actors, and legislative allies into a coordinated advocacy coalition focused on sustaining public and political pressure during the amendment process. We worked closely with partner organizations to amplify research, policy briefs, and legal analyses documenting how Section 24 was being weaponized against journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens, translating technical evidence into accessible public advocacy.
To build momentum for reform, Gatefield convened civil society organisations, digital rights groups, media actors, and legislative allies into a coordinated advocacy coalition focused on sustaining public and political pressure during the amendment process. We worked closely with partner organizations to amplify research, policy briefs, and legal analyses documenting how Section 24 was being weaponized against journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens, translating technical evidence into accessible public advocacy.
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