SERAP Faults Data Protection Bill, Warns of Social Media Crackdown
Tuesday, 21 July 2026
By Atlantic Digest National Desk
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the National Assembly to immediately withdraw the proposed Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, warning that the legislation could pave the way for increased government control over social media platforms and online expression.
SERAP argued that the bill, if passed in its current form, would grant regulatory authorities sweeping powers capable of restricting or shutting down digital platforms operating in Nigeria, thereby posing a serious threat to constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and access to information.
The organisation maintained that requiring social media companies and digital service providers to establish physical offices in Nigeria as a condition for operating could expose them to political pressure and make it easier for authorities to impose censorship or interfere with online content.
According to SERAP, the proposed amendment mirrors previous attempts to regulate social media that generated widespread public opposition and raised significant concerns among civil society organisations and digital rights advocates. The group warned that empowering regulators to prohibit the operations of online platforms without adequate judicial safeguards would undermine democratic freedoms and discourage innovation in Nigeria’s digital economy.
SERAP further stated that it would institute legal proceedings should the bill become law, insisting that the legislation conflicts with both the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights obligations, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Meanwhile, a civil society foundation has separately urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to end the seven-month delay in signing the Audit Bill, describing the legislation as a critical reform needed to strengthen transparency, accountability and public financial management.
The organisation argued that the audit reform has long been championed by governance and anti-corruption advocates as a key instrument for improving oversight of public expenditure and enhancing the independence of Nigeria’s auditing institutions.
Stakeholders have expressed concern that continued delays in assenting to the bill could slow ongoing efforts to strengthen accountability within government ministries, departments and agencies.
The twin developments have renewed debate over Nigeria’s commitment to digital rights, open governance and institutional reforms, with civil society groups urging lawmakers and the Presidency to ensure that legislation promotes transparency and democratic freedoms while balancing national security and regulatory objectives.
The National Assembly has yet to formally respond to SERAP’s latest appeal, while deliberations on the proposed amendment continue.
