By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, has called for stronger protection of digital rights in Nigeria, warning that increasing cases of surveillance, censorship, data breaches, and online harassment pose serious threats to citizens’ fundamental freedoms.
Ojukwu made the call on Wednesday, while delivering his keynote address at the opening of a two-day capacity building training programme for legal and investigation officers of the commission, organised by the Commission in partnership with DigiCivic Initiative with the theme: “Understanding and Protecting Digital Rights in 21st Century”
The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Director of Legal Services and Enforcement at the National Human Rights Commission, Mrs Rabi Anwar, emphasized the need for human rights institutions to evolve in response to the rapidly changing digital landscape.
Ojukwu said the digital ecosystem has become central to modern economic, political, and social life, making it imperative for institutions charged with protecting human rights to adapt to emerging realities in the digital age.
According to him, rights such as freedom of expression, privacy, and association do not disappear when citizens engage online, but instead take on new dimensions that require deliberate protection and enforcement.
He noted that while digital technology has created unprecedented opportunities for connectivity, commerce, and civic participation, it has also introduced new and complex threats to human rights across the world and within Nigeria.
“We are witnessing the rise of surveillance, censorship, data breaches, and online attacks. The questions confronting us are becoming increasingly complex,” he said.
Ojukwu raised concerns over how to balance national security considerations with the protection of citizens’ privacy rights, stressing that authorities must avoid suppressing dissenting voices in the process of regulating digital spaces.
He further stressed the need for law enforcement agencies and public institutions to ensure that actions taken in cyberspace comply with international human rights standards.
The NHRC boss described legal and investigation officers of the commission as frontline defenders of human rights whose responsibilities now extend beyond conventional violations to include digital rights protection.
According to him, officers must now be equipped to investigate cases involving unlawful data processing, breaches of privacy, cyber-related abuses, and the misuse of technology to undermine civic freedoms.
He explained that the training programme was designed to strengthen participants’ understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks guiding Nigeria’s digital space, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and the Cybercrimes Act.
Ojukwu also referenced recent judicial pronouncements on data privacy, including the case of Akosa versus Eve and Blue Limited, which he said established important precedents for the protection of citizens’ personal data and demonstrated the readiness of Nigeria’s judicial system to uphold digital rights.
He urged participants to align their investigative processes and legal submissions with emerging judicial standards and progressive interpretations of digital rights laws.
The NHRC Executive Secretary identified three major priorities in addressing digital rights challenges: aligning technological innovation with human rights principles, strengthening collaboration among institutions, and promoting creativity and resilience in responding to emerging threats such as artificial intelligence.
He said effective protection of digital rights requires cooperation between agencies including the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, the Nigerian Communications Commission, civil society organisations, technology experts, and the private sector.
Ojukwu also acknowledged the contributions of development partners and civil society groups supporting the initiative, including Paradigm Initiative, Accountability Lab, and other stakeholders working to advance digital rights and civic freedoms.
He urged participants to actively engage during the training by asking questions, challenging assumptions, and sharing field experiences that could help shape the commission’s future response to digital rights violations.
According to him, access to the internet has become a fundamental platform for the exercise of several other rights in the 21st century, making the protection of digital rights essential to safeguarding democracy, freedom, and human dignity.
