The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project said the proposed social media bill is an attempt to criminalise “free expression” and “human rights”.
SERAP said this in response to statement by the National Broadcasting Commission that social media is “Nigeria’s major problem” and “monster” .
It urged the National Assembly and the federal government not to interest themselves in any effort to regulate networking website.
The advice is contained in a statement the group’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare released.
It read in part, “The National Broadcasting Commission last week reportedly stated that, “one of Nigeria’s major problems now is social media,” and described social media as “a monster.”
“In the letter dated 14 October 2023, and signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “social media is neither Nigeria’s problem nor a monster. Any regulation of it would have arbitrary and excessive effects, and cause incalculable damage, both in material and human rights terms.
“Any move to regulate social media would be inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
