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Proyek Hak Sosial-Ekonomi dan Akuntabilitas (SERAP) telah mendesak Presiden Senat, Godswill Akpabio, dan Ketua Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, Tajudeen Abbas “untuk segera menarik RUU yang represif untuk suatu tindakan untuk mengubah Batas Data Nigeria 2023, yang berupaya untuk mengatur kegiatan-kegiatan yang beroperasi di dalam wilayah yang beroperasi di dalam wilayah yang beroperasi di dalam wilayah yang beroperasi di dalam wilayah yang beroperasi di dalam wilayah blogger yang Operating in territie areas within bloggers in areas operating within blogger areas that operate within blogger areas in areas that operate in blogger areas that operate within the blogger area in the blogger area that operates within the blogger area in the blogger area that operates within the blogger area within the blogger area that operates within the blogger area “
Absorbing urged Mr Akpabio and Mr. Abbas “to ensure that every amendment to Nigerian data protection laws promotes and protect the rights of bloggers and other journalists and does not damage Nigerian human rights.”
Absorbing also urged Mr Akpabio and Mr. Abbas “to end the imposition of unnecessary restrictions on online Nigerian rights and internet-based content.”
At present there is a bill entitled “Bill for Law to Change the Law Protection of Nigeria, 2023, to mandate the formation of physical offices within the territorial boundaries of the Federal Nigerian Republic by social media platforms and for related problems” (“RUU”).
The bill is trying to manage bloggers, including by requiring all bloggers to register local offices and join the recognized national association for bloggers. The bill has passed the first and second reading in the Senate.
In the letter dated April 12, 2025 and signed by the Deputy Director of Collawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “This bill is an open effort to bring back and accelerate the annoying social media bill and broadly rejected by the back door.”
Absorb, “If ratified, the bill will also be used to prohibit the main social media platforms – including Facebook, X (previously Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, Youtube, Tiktok, and independent bloggers if they ‘continue to fail to build/register and maintain physical offices in Nigeria for a period of 30 days.'”
The letter was read in part: “MPs must not be an intermediary for truth in the public and political domain. Regulating blogger activities and force them to get along will have a significant terrible effect on freedom of expression and lead to censorship or restraints.
“This bill can also be used to block Nigerian access to social media platforms. Blocking access to social media platforms is a striking violation of fundamental rights.
“In addition to violating Nigeria’s right to access digital information and technology, the proposed bill will also greatly hamper business operations in this country, because many depend on foreign tools, services, and technology for their operations, as well as other sectors that rely on online information.
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“The bill will force international technology companies to come out of Nigerian information landscapes by requiring them to build/register and maintain physical offices in this country. This will violate the requirement that the right to freedom of expression applies ‘regardless of the border.’
“If the national assembly and leadership fail to withdraw the bill to regulate blogger activities, and if the bill is approved by the Tinubu Bola President, absorbing will consider appropriate legal actions to challenge such legal legality and ensure that it has never been carried out for the public interest.
“Blogger regulations can be used to emit different voices and to silence all forms of criticism or negative opinions about the policies and practices of the ruling party or the government.
“The authorities can also use the proposed regulations as a pretext for punishing bloggers solely for the implementation of their human rights peace.
“The bill seems to be directed at bloggers who live in Nigeria and elsewhere, with a bad effect on freedom of expression from various very broad people”.
“Amendment, if passed will have a negative impact on unregistered bloggers who operate ‘within Nigerian territorial limits.’
“The proposed amendment can also be used to violate privacy rights, freedom of peace gathering and association as protected by the 1999 Nigerian Constitution [as amended] and international human rights standards.
“The proposed amendment is entirely inconsistent and not compatible with Nigeria’s obligation to respect and ensure effective realization of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Amendments to disproportionality suppress various expressive behaviors that are important for democratic society.
“This bill will lead to obstacles and great threats to each individual, especially journalists, defenders of human rights and civil society organizations that may be critical of the government, and inhibit democracy and media freedom.
“The compulsory regulation of journalism is not in accordance with the right to freedom of expression. There is no legal reason why bloggers – or actually members of the general public – must be subject to compulsory regulations or licenses to express themselves.
“Blogging plays a very valuable role in the flow of free information. Bloggers should not be asked to register with the government or other official institutions for blogs.
“This bill can also be used as a pretext to force bloggers to reveal their sources. The right to protect sources is the foundation of press freedom, without which the source can be prevented from assisting the press in informing the public about the issue of public interest.
“The Nigerian Constitution and the Human Rights Agreement that the State has ratified protects the rights of all people [including bloggers] To defend opinions without interference and search, receive and provide information and ideas from all types, regardless of the border and through any media. “
“Nigerian authorities including the National Assembly have legal obligations to ensure the environment in which various opinions and ideas can be expressed freely and openly and debated.
“Requirements requirement implies the assessment of proportionality of restrictions, with the aim of ensuring that restrictions targeting certain objectives and not too disturbing the rights of targeted people.”
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