A new report launched in Abuja has sparked renewed concerns over the growing use of targeted surveillance, cyber harassment, and digital repression in Nigeria, with civil society organisations warning that unchecked monitoring of citizens now poses serious threats to privacy, civic freedoms, and human rights.
The report, titled: “Victims Speak: Techniques, Patterns, and Impacts of Targeted Surveillance in Nigeria,” was unveiled by Spaces for Change during a gathering that brought together civil society representatives, legal practitioners, government regulators, media professionals, and investigative journalists.
According to the organisers, the report documents the experiences of civic actors allegedly subjected to unlawful surveillance, exposing patterns of abuse and the devastating impact such practices have had on victims.
At the event, a participant Lucy Okonkwo, a representative of Dataphyte said the launch underscored the urgent need to treat privacy not only as a technological issue but also as a broader governance and human rights concern.
Victims Narrate Emotional, Psychological Toll
Participants at the event shared accounts of intimidation, emotional trauma, reputational damage, and financial losses allegedly linked to surveillance activities carried out by both state and non-state actors.
Speakers warned that as technology becomes deeply integrated into daily life, tools such as mobile phones, digital platforms, and applications now possess unprecedented capabilities to collect, track, and monitor personal information.
The discussions also highlighted growing concerns over Nigeria’s Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations (LICR), which requires communication service providers operating within the country to maintain interception capabilities that may be accessed by government authorities.
Stakeholders at the launch argued that the regulation raises critical questions around transparency, oversight, consent, and the protection of citizens’ digital rights.
Calls for Accountability and Legal Safeguards
Many participants expressed concern over what they described as limited avenues for victims of unlawful surveillance to seek justice or institutional support.
According to the organisers, the sophistication and scale of surveillance techniques documented in the report reveal widening accountability gaps and the shrinking civic space in Nigeria.
“The increasing surveillance of citizens by both state and non-state actors shows the urgent need for stronger transparency, accountability, legal safeguards, and independent oversight around data collection, interception, and surveillance practices in Nigeria,” Dataphyte said in a statement following the event.
The report launch concluded with calls for reforms aimed at strengthening digital rights protections, improving oversight mechanisms, and safeguarding civic freedoms in an increasingly data-driven society.
The report, “Victims Speak: Techniques, Patterns, and Impacts of Targeted Surveillance in Nigeria,” was launched by Spaces for Change in Abuja and is focused on targeted surveillance, digital repression, cyber harassment, and shrinking civic space in Nigeria.
Click the link to read the report – shorturl.at/ZYi1b
