The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has expressed deep concern over what it described as the steady deterioration of digital rights protections at the state and local government levels in Nigeria, warning that unchecked abuses could undermine democracy and citizen participation.
The organisation raised the alarm on Friday in Abuja at a press conference marking the release of its Policy Brief on the State of Digital Rights Observance at the State Level in Nigeria. According to CITAD, there has been an increasing trend of arrests, harassment and intimidation of citizens for opinions expressed online, with state and local authorities often implicated.
CITAD noted that under Nigeria’s federal system, state governments are mandated not only to deploy digital technologies for development but also to safeguard citizens’ digital rights, especially as information and communication technologies now underpin governance, education, healthcare, commerce and civic engagement. However, it said many states have failed to meet this responsibility.
“Digital technologies are now central to governance, but the protection of digital rights at the state level continues to be neglected,” the organisation said.
The group revealed that within the past six months it has intervened in several digital rights cases across Kano, Jigawa, Niger, Katsina and Kwara states. These include the arrest of Comrade Abiyo Roni in Jigawa State on November 10 over social media criticism of his local government chairman, as well as the arrest and detention of Kwara-based blogger Ajala Adeshina Shuaib over alleged defamation linked to online commentary about a senator.
In Kano State, CITAD cited cases involving Murtala Garba Doka, Shamsu Safiyanu Lambu and Zakariyya Kabeer Gwagwarwa, a serving corps member reportedly arrested at the behest of a political office holder.
“These incidents are not isolated cases,” CITAD said, describing them as part of a growing pattern of intolerance for criticism, abuse of authority and the use of security agencies to suppress dissent at the grassroots.
The organisation also drew attention to digital rights violations involving private individuals