Leading civil society organizations in Nigeria have condemned a proposed amendment to the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, describing it as a dangerous attempt to stifle free expression and clamp down on online voices.
Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France), the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), and Spaces for Change (S4C), under the European Union-funded eRIGHTS Project, jointly raised the alarm over the bill currently before the National Assembly. Titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms and for Related Matters,” the bill has already scaled its first and second readings in the Senate.
According to the groups, the proposed amendment goes far beyond the scope of data protection. It seeks to compel bloggers and social media platforms to register with government-recognized associations and maintain physical offices in Nigeria—a move the organizations say infringes on constitutionally protected rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and association.
“This legislation, if passed, will pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic values,” the coalition said in a statement released Tuesday. “It risks shrinking the civic and digital space and undermines the vital work of bloggers, digital creators, and citizen journalists.”
The groups emphasized that while data protection is essential for safeguarding citizens’ privacy, the bill’s contents venture into regulatory overreach that could silence dissent and restrict the diversity of online narratives. They warned that the bureaucratic and financial implications of the proposed law would place undue burdens on independent media voices and grassroots creators who rely on digital platforms to speak truth to power.
Calling on the National Assembly to suspend the legislative process, the eRIGHTS partners urged broader public consultation involving civil society, digital rights advocates, and technology stakeholders. They also appealed to the President of Nigeria not to assent to any version of the bill that undermines digital freedoms.
In addition, the coalition called on the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to publicly clarify its position on the matter and uphold its responsibility to promote democratic values in data governance.
The eRIGHTS project, funded by the European Union, remains committed to defending the digital rights of Nigerians and ensuring that the internet remains a safe, inclusive space for free expression, innovation, and civic engagement.
