A civil society organization, Center for Liberty, has called on the National Assembly to withdraw bills threatening citizens’ rights to digital freedom and freedom of expression.

This was contained in an address signed by the Project Coordinator, Adebayo Raphael, and Assistant Project Coordinator, Maryam Ahmed, where they pointed out that the inestimable role of digital platforms, including social media, in Nigeria, has been well-accentuated throughout Nigeria’s response and fight against COVID-19 so far.

CFL is a non-governmental organization and a coalition of renowned rightsholders and groups, committed to social change, social justice, and the protection of democracy, civic spaces, and human rights in Nigeria.

The statement reads in part: 

"CFL is pleased to announce the commencement of a Digital Freedom Advocacy which is being sponsored by Voice Nigeria and aimed at facilitating citizens’ engagement on digital freedom, with the specific goal of ensuring the withdrawal of legislative bills threatening citizens’ rights to digital freedom and freedom of expression, as guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

“We believe that the inestimable role of digital platforms, including social media, in Nigeria, has been well-accentuated throughout Nigeria’s response and fight against COVID-19 so far. Since Nigeria’s first confirmed case of coronavirus in late February, social media and other digital platforms have been extremely invaluable in the areas of awareness, information dissemination, and widespread reporting of human rights violations, security challenges, and economic crises in the country.

“These platforms have also been instrumental in mainstreaming the harsh economic conditions under which the majority of Nigerians have had to endure the lockdown in specific states, thereby prodding the Federal Government to commence a palliative distribution programme.

“We have also seen how digital platforms have been at the forefront of demanding transparency and accountability during these trying times, specifically concerning palliative distribution in specific states across the country. Recently, the social media was instrumental in ensuring the dismissal of two police officers, who had physically assaulted and brutalized Ms. Tola Azeez, whilst on her way to acquiring emergency drugs for her relatives in Iwo, Osun State."

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