Accountability Lab Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has advocated for the full implementation of laws that safeguard individuals’ rights and data to build trust in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The organisation’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Associate, Alfred Agu, made this call during a digital rights roundtable engagement for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and media professionals in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Agu emphasised the importance of stricter privacy laws and increased focus on cross-border data flows and sovereignty, particularly with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
He stated that the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) has the regulatory power to protect individual data, preventing critical information from being corrupted, compromised, or lost.
Agu highlighted the significance of data privacy, noting that it prevents identity theft, facilitates regulatory compliance, reduces breach impacts, supports consumer protection, and realises full human rights.
“The NDPA establishes the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which mandates consent for data collection and processing.
“The commission penalises breaches with fines up to N10 million or imprisonment”, he said.
Agu called for the expansion of NDPA provisions to address emerging technologies and urged stakeholders to collaborate with international organizations to align Nigerian laws with global standards.
Blessing Anolaba, Storytelling Development Officer, Accountability Lab Nigeria, who spoke on: “Understanding Reporting and Resisting Digital Repression in Nigeria: Why Digital Rights Matter”, emphasised that digital rights are essential for journalists to effectively report sensitive issues without fear of harassment or censorship.
According to her, digital rights enable journalists to document and report violations, collaborate with national and international media, and share real-time updates.
Anolaba however that media professionals face challenges such as surveillance, threats, and poor digital infrastructure, which limit access to information.
She therefore urged stakeholders to join campaigns to protect digital rights and called on the government and corporations to respect digital rights and end repressive practices against media professionals.
Some participants at the meeting, including, Isaac Ukpoju ,an Editor at the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) and Abel Daniel, correspondent of the Guardian Newspaper, promised to use their media platforms to educate the public on their rights under the NDPA and create awareness about the need for government implementation.
The roundtable aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to grasp Nigeria’s data privacy, digital rights, and freedom of expression laws; also sought to help them effectively identify, respond to, and report digital rights abuses, enhance media reporting on digital rights issues, and highlight data privacy breaches and accountability gaps.
The meeting was attended by CSOs and some selected media professionals in the print media.
