RULAAC backs SERAP, urges withdrawal of provisions on Nigeria Data Protection Amendment Bill 

Human rights organisation, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has expressed its unequivocal solidarity with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) over its opposition to aspects of the proposed Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

It pointed out that, if enacted in their current form, the law could undermine constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, access to information and democratic participation.

RULAAC acknowledged the legitimate responsibility of the state to protect personal data and strengthen Nigeria’s data protection regime and averred that such objectives must be pursued in a manner that is fully consistent with the constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. 

“Data protection cannot become a pretext for expanding governmental control over digital spaces or introducing measures that facilitate censorship through indirect means,” RULAAC pointed out.

RULAAC noted in a statement signed by the executive director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, that of particular concern are provisions that could empower regulatory authorities to prohibit or shut down digital platforms for non-compliance with localisation requirements. 

“Such sweeping powers create a real risk of arbitrary restrictions on access to digital platforms and could produce consequences similar to the 2021 suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, which the ECOWAS Court of Justice found to be incompatible with the right to freedom of expression.

“Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), guarantees every person the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference,” Nwanguma said.