Stakeholders at the 2026 National Conference on Digital Rights have intensified calls for stronger safeguards for online freedoms, urging Nigeria to strike a careful balance between national security concerns and the protection of fundamental human rights in the digital environment.
The conference, held in Abuja,under the European Union-funded e-Rights Project and implemented by Avocats Sans Frontières France in partnership with Spaces for Change and CITAD. brought together legal experts, civil society actors, regulators and activists to examine emerging threats to civic freedoms as Nigeria approaches another election cycle.
Country Director of Avocats Sans Frontières–France (ASF), Lawyers Without Borders in Nigeria, Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, said the conference was intentionally timed ahead of the 2026 general elections, when digital platforms are expected to play a central role in political participation and public discourse.
“2026 is the lead up to the general elections in Nigeria, this is the best time to begin to have the conversation about digital rights, which means enjoyment of our traditional human rights as we have always known it offline, now on digital platforms,” she said.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu warned that increased reliance on digital tools for campaigning, governance and civic engagement has heightened concerns around surveillance, censorship and self-censorship.
“Our screens matter, our privacy matters, our data matters. Digital evolution should enhance our enjoyment of human rights and never impair it. We see various kinds of challenges that are coming up, pushing persons to self-censor themselves,” she noted.
She disclosed that the EU-funded e-Digital Rights Project has prioritised building digital resilience among journalists, strengthening judicial capacity, empowering lawyers and litigating digital rights cases at both national and regional levels. According to her, the project is now expanding its legislative advocacy efforts, including support for the proposed Artificial Intelligence Bill and ongoing reviews of the Cybercrimes Act.
In a goodwill message, Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr Tony Ojukwu, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to partnerships aimed at embedding digital rights into governance frameworks to promote inclusion and protect freedoms.
He described digital rights protection as “a cornerstone of human dignity and democratic governance,” cautioning that violations such as data misuse, cyber harassment and online defamation have become increasingly common. He stressed the need for accountability, transparency and inclusive digital governance.
Representing the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr Vincent Olatunji, Legal Officer Olamilekan Bakare said the conference theme aligned closely with the Commission’s 2026 National Privacy Week, themed “privacy in the era of emerging technologies, trust, ethics, and innovation.”
“The protection of digital rights remains fundamental to building public trust, promoting ethical innovation, and ensuring inclusive access to digital opportunities,” he said.
Also speaking, representative of the Internet Society of Nigeria, Kunle Olorundare, raised concerns about data sovereignty, stressing that “privacy is a right, not a privilege,” and describing digital rights as “the fundamental freedom of our time.”
“Are the Nigerian people the master of their own data or merely the products within it?” he asked, adding that safeguarding online civic freedoms is essential for a transparent and democratic society.
In separate interviews with Voice of Nigeria, Executive Director of Spaces for Change, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, emphasised that digital rights are inseparable from human rights, urging Nigeria to adopt a more ambitious approach to digital sovereignty.
“Nigeria is the giant of Africa and we need to start thinking like a giant. We should be thinking about building Nigeria’s own Silicon Valleys, not just in Lagos, in Abuja, in Kano, in Enugu, in all our commercial centres, creating jobs for our young people, creating more employment and also bolstering the economy,” she said.
Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu called for nationwide investment in internet infrastructure, arguing that governments often prioritise “regime protection rather than citizens protection.”
Similarly, a participant from the South East, Chinedu Agu, expressed concerns about shrinking digital freedoms and urged the judiciary to provide the necessary “guardrails” to protect journalists, activists and citizens expressing opinions online.
Executive Director of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Dr Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, said stakeholders were committed “to push the frontiers of digital rights in Nigeria,” warning that restrictions on digital organising could push citizens towards street protests.
“We are calling on governments that it is in all its interest to create the necessary space for young people, particularly the Gen Z,” he said.
