By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has tasked the incoming administration under the leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu with protecting the country’s digital space.
The group, in a statement, said that there was a need for the incoming administration to make the country’s digital space more open, free, and secure for all citizens.
“The increasing use of digital technologies in Nigeria poses more risk for people who become victims of cyber threats and attacks. There is a need for the incoming administration to work towards strengthening cybersecurity measures to ensure the safety and security of citizens’ online activities and prevent cybercrime,” the statement said.
The group also tasked the incoming administration with bridging the digital literacy divide in the country.
“Another aspect the incoming administration should focus on is digital literacy as there is a significant digital divide in Nigeria, with many people lacking basic digital literacy skills. There is a need for the government to prioritize investment in digital education initiatives to provide citizens with the necessary skills to participate in the digital economy and benefit from the opportunities presented by emerging technologies.
“We all also call on the 10th National Assembly to show the same zeal as the 9th Assembly to ensure the speedy passage of the Digital Rights and Freedoms Bill as it would enable the country to have a comprehensive data protection system, ” it added.
The group further urged the incoming administration with passing the Digital Rights and Freedoms Bill.
“Nigeria needs comprehensive data protection legislation that will regulate the collection, use, and sharing of personal data by public and private entities.
“We are calling on the president-elect to prioritize passing of the Digital Rights and Freedoms Bill which will protect citizens’ privacy and prevent abuse of personal data,”.
On internet freedom, the group urged the government to work towards creating an enabling environment for online expression and digital journalism, protecting whistleblowers, and strengthening mechanisms for transparency and accountability.
“As you are all aware, digital rights have become an increasingly important issue in Nigeria in recent years. With the rise of digital technologies and the internet, more and more people are relying on digital platforms to communicate, access information, and conduct their daily lives.
“However, the digital space in Nigeria is currently facing several challenges, which are harming the digital rights of Nigerian citizens.
“There have been many reported cases of government censorship and taking down the content of citizens on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram without any justification or order from a competent court,” it said.
These challenges, it said are at the detriment of Nigerians whose freedom of expression, the right to privacy, the right to association online, and the right to access information were being tampered with.
