Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a pan-African rights organisation, has called on the Nigerian government to intensify enforcement of data protection laws and prioritise the safeguarding of citizens’ digital rights.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Gbenga Sesan, made the appeal during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday while presenting the group’s latest report on the state of digital rights and inclusion in Nigeria.
PIN, which works across Africa to strengthen digital policy and build capacity, stressed the importance of creating a secure and inclusive online environment that respects the rights of all users.
Sesan expressed concern that despite the enactment of the Data Protection Act of 2023, enforcement remains weak, leaving Nigerians vulnerable to privacy violations. He noted that personal data, including National Identification Numbers (NINs) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), has been repeatedly leaked and sold online, sometimes involving information belonging to political leaders and security officials.
He warned that arbitrary internet shutdowns, surveillance, and inconsistent digital policies continue to undermine public trust and threaten Nigeria’s digital growth.
The group highlighted its “Stemming the Tide of Abuse in Nigeria’s Digital Space (STANDS)” project, which has used advocacy, litigation, evidence-building, and capacity development to protect citizens and push for lasting policy reforms.
Sesan also commended development partners, including the Embassy of the Netherlands, Ford Foundation, Luminate, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Mott Foundation, Open Society Foundations, IDRC, and the Internet Society Foundation, for supporting PIN’s initiatives despite challenges facing non-profit organisations.
PIN’s Chief Operating Officer, Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, outlined the organisation’s wider impact, including scholarships for students in Ajegunle, Lagos, the development of digital toolkits, reports, and short films that raise awareness on digital rights across Africa.
Also speaking, Khadija El-Usman, Senior Programmes Officer for Anglophone West Africa, presented highlights of the 2024 Nigeria Londa Report. The report evaluates Nigeria’s performance on digital rights against the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.
According to the report, Nigeria scored 36 out of 60, placing it in the “moderately compliant” category, reflecting both achievements and shortcomings in the protection of digital rights.
The findings showed that while progress has been made, many Nigerians still struggle with high internet costs, poor connectivity, and limited digital literacy. Rural residents, women, and persons with disabilities were identified as the groups most affected by these challenges.
PIN therefore urged government and stakeholders to adopt urgent measures to address these barriers and ensure that every Nigerian can participate meaningfully in the country’s digital economy.