A COALITION of 36 organisations has called the attention of relevant government agencies to respect citizens’ rights and immediately cease further disruptions of network services and attempts at future network shutdowns.
In a statement mailed to The ICIR on Friday, August 2, the group noted that internet disruptions created significant obstacles that damage the free flow of information, which might in turn erode trust and increase the likelihood of hostilities and violence.
“We, the undersigned organisations, in the strongest terms possible, condemn the intentional disruption of access to the internet in Nigeria following protests that erupted in several states across the country on the 1st of August, 2024.
“This action constitutes an unacceptable breach of established norms and standards under regional and international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a State party and must be halted forthwith,” the statement read in parts.
It further stated that the weaponisation of internet disruptions and blocking or shutdowns during political unrest would only exacerbate the underlying concerns of citizens.
Besides, the group argued that the shutdowns were against Chapter Four of Nigeria’s Constitution which assures its citizens of their rights to freedom of conscience, expression, assembly and association.
The group therefore urged the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to ensure that all communication channels are kept open without disrupting and impacting quality of access for citizens to be able to communicate seamlessly and access accurate information about the state of things.
Earlier this week, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) directed all mobile operators to immediately reactivate all the lines they had disconnected following the outcry by many telecom consumers over the inability to access their phone lines, particularly MTN users because those lines were allegedly not linked to the National Identity Number (NIN).
Since the #EndBadGovernance protest commenced on Thursday, August 1, there have been internet network disruptions causing slow access to the internet, slow financial transactions, and commerce, among other essential service delivery platforms.
The ICIR reports that many Nigerians are protesting against poor governance and economic hardships caused by President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.
Here’s the list of organisations that signed the statement.
Accountability Lab Nigeria
Africa Cybersecurity Alliance
Africa Media and Information Technology Initiative (AfriMITI)
African Academic Network on Internet Policy (AANOIP.ORG)
African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
Afroleadership Cameroon
BONews Service
Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative
Bridges and Hands Foundation
Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organizations (CEHRO Ethiopia)
Digicivic Initiative
Digital Grassroots (DIGRA)
E-Governance and Internet Governance Foundation for Africa (EGIGFA)
Equip Africa Integrated Development Initiative
FactCheck Africa Initiative
Farnnel Women Foundation.
Global Rights
Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria
Institutional and sustainable Development Foundation (ISDF)
Jonction,senegal
KnowledgeHouseAfrica (KHA)
Media and Information Literacy & Intercultural Dialogue Foundation (MILID)
Media Career Development Network
Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
National Roundtable on Business and Human Rights
Paradigm Initiative
Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC)
TechHerNG
Techsocietal
The Abuja School of Social and Political Thought
The African Internet Rights Alliance (AIRA)
Webfala Digital Skills for all Initiative
West Africa ICT Action Network
West African Digital Rights Defenders coalition
World Impact Development Foundation (WIDEF)
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He's a good governance and decent society advocate. He's The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation's News Editor since September 2022. Contact him via email @ [email protected].