The recent move by the Federal Government to regulate social media has sparked a lot of controversies in Nigeria, with many Nigerians vowing to resist any attempt aimed at muzzling freedom of speech.
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) before now, had submitted a bill to the National Assembly seeking to repeal and reenact the NBC Act, CAP L11 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which would enable NBC to regulate social media.
NBC Director-General, Balarabe Ilelah, described the ills of social media as a “monster” and argued that, unless there is a law that allows NBC to act on social media issues, the issue will continue to be a monster in our daily lives in this country.
However, the move has stimulated controversies amongst Nigerians who alleged that the Federal Government was putting pressure on social media companies to unduly restrict their fundamental human rights.
According to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), the bill, if passed into law, would criminalize the legitimate and lawful exercise of the human rights of Nigerians and be inconsistent and incompatible with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international human rights obligations.
Although some Nigerians support the move to regulate social media to curb the excesses of their users, many others believe that it is a plot by the government to restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy of individuals.
Nigerians who oppose the bill believe that it would lead to digital siege and that the government wants to stop criticism.
While some social media users think that some platforms like Tiktok have aided moral decadence among children, they believe that the move to regulate social media should not be about stopping criticism.
Nigerians have demanded that their hard-earned freedom and liberty be protected, and they should be allowed to enjoy the freedom guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
