Stakeholders in Nasarawa State have called for stronger protection of citizens’ digital rights and increased awareness on data protection, online safety and responsible digital engagement.
They made the call at a stakeholders’ engagement and community-focused workshop on digital rights and data protection in Lafia, organised by Accountability Lab Nigeria with support from Luminate.
Speaking at the event, Mr Friday Odeh, Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, said the engagement was aimed at creating awareness and providing platforms for citizens to discuss issues affecting their digital rights.
Odeh said the organisation was also seeking to build coalitions and partnerships that would support victims of digital rights violations across the country.
According to him, issues raised during the engagement included sexual harassment, surveillance, platform moderation and other forms of online abuse.
“We want to hear from the people and identify the peculiar issues affecting residents of Nasarawa State in relation to digital rights and data protection.
“We are looking at how to support platforms and coalitions for collective action because many of these challenges are common across different states and regions,” he said.
He explained that the initiative would also engage governments, technology companies and relevant authorities to ensure compliance with the National Data Protection Act and safeguard citizens’ rights online.
Odeh noted that citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly applied both online and offline, especially as more social interactions had shifted to digital platforms.
He, however, expressed concern that many Nigerians were unaware of their digital rights and the legal implications of violating the rights of others online.
“In some countries, consent is required before taking or sharing people’s pictures online, but in Nigeria many people post pictures, share sensitive content and harass others online without understanding the consequences.
“We are creating awareness so citizens can understand that these are rights protected by law and that victims can seek legal redress where necessary,” he said.
The country director also stressed the need for community engagement and adoption of digital tools such as the “Ripoti” platform to combat online harms and improve incident reporting in the state.
He said the platform would help track digital harm trends and support evidence-based advocacy campaigns.
Odeh added that the organisation was exploring partnerships with lawyers offering pro bono services, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen advocacy and public enlightenment on digital rights issues.
He urged journalists to educate the public through ethical reporting practices that emphasised consent, confidentiality and responsible data handling.
The country director also called on stakeholders to explore emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital identity systems to ensure adequate data protection.
In her remarks, Akakan Markson, Gender Associate, Accountability Lab Nigeria, outlined a roadmap for strengthening digital rights protection in the state.
Markson said the engagement was designed to address digital rights challenges affecting community members, journalists, students, women and creatives in Nasarawa State.
“We must move beyond mere conversations and toward a shared understanding and actionable framework that strengthens the protection and promotion of digital rights across Nasarawa State,” she said.
She called on stakeholders to develop a joint action plan with clear responsibilities and coordination mechanisms to bridge the awareness gap among citizens.
Some participants, including Collins Agwam of the Punch Newspaper and and Aliyu Muraki of Radio Nigeria , said the workshop exposed them to practical and secure documentation tools such as the Ripoti platform for reporting digital rights abuses.
They pledged to promote ethical digital reporting practices and support advocacy efforts aimed at protecting victims of online rights violations. (NAN)
