Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is raising fresh alarm over what it describes as Nigeria’s worsening state of digital rights and data protection, warning that citizens’ sensitive information has been exposed online for at least three years.
At a media briefing in Abuja, the pan-African non-profit says that recurring breaches reflect weak government handling of data security, with records reportedly available cheaply for sale on the internet.
“The data security problem is serious. Data belonging to the President, Vice President, National Security Adviser, top military officials, ministers and other senior government officials are also available online to anyone who knows their full name and date of birth,” PIN’s Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, tells journalists.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s advances in technology, Sesan cautions that key digital rights—privacy, online protection, freedom of expression and access to information—are under increasing threat. He cites arbitrary internet shutdowns, poor enforcement of data protection, surveillance practices and inconsistent policy frameworks as issues that “continue to weaken citizens’ trust and hinder the country’s digital growth and potential.”
PIN: Poor enforcement of data protection weakens citizens’ trust
While acknowledging Nigeria’s advances in technology, Sesan cautions that key digital rights—privacy, online protection, freedom of expression and access to information—are under increasing threat. He cites arbitrary internet shutdowns, poor enforcement of data protection, surveillance practices and inconsistent policy frameworks as issues that “continue to weaken citizens’ trust and hinder the country’s digital growth and potential.”
The organisation credited partners including the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, Ford Foundation, Luminate and others for sustaining its digital rights advocacy in challenging times. Sesan said PIN’s Stemming the Tide of Abuse in Nigeria’s Digital Space (STANDS) Project has been pivotal in shaping reforms through litigation, advocacy and judicial engagement, with initiatives such as the Ikot Ekpene Declaration now guiding judges on integrating digital rights into court rulings.
On impact, Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, PIN’s Chief Operating Officer, highlights the organisation’s transformative work across Africa, ranging from research and toolkits to scholarships for underserved youth in Ajegunle, Lagos, where the group began in 2007.
Khadijah El-Usman, Senior Officer Programmes, Anglophone West Africa, presents findings from the 2024 Nigeria Londa Report, which benchmarks Nigeria’s digital rights environment against the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) principles. The country scored 36 out of 60, placing it in the “moderately compliant” category.
“For Nigeria in 2024, this assessment is not just a research exercise. It directly reflects how over 200 million citizens experience their right to connect, speak, be protected online and participate in the digital economy,” El-Usman adds.
The report flagged persistent barriers to internet affordability, connectivity and digital skills, particularly for rural communities, women and persons with disabilities. Despite progress, PIN stressed that significant gaps remain in ensuring inclusive digital access and rights protection.
