Diplomatic envoys from the United States, United Kingdom, Finland, Norway, and Canada have called on the Nigerian government to reform the Cybercrimes Act of 2015, warning that its vague and broad provisions are being misused to suppress freedom of expression and democratic engagement.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the diplomats praised the country’s 26 years of democratic governance but raised concerns over how the law is increasingly being used to target journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens for online speech.
The statement was signed by Richard Mills, Jr. (U.S. Embassy), Richard Montgomery (British High Commission), Sanna Selin (Embassy of Finland), Svein Baera (Embassy of Norway), and Pasquale Salvaggio (Canadian High Commission).
Referencing President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day remarks that praised “diverse perspectives and viewpoints,” the envoys emphasized that free expression is essential for democratic progress.
They expressed particular concern over recent amendments to the Cybercrimes Act, which they said have made the law more susceptible to abuse. They cited the position of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, which has warned that the law is being used to arrest and prosecute people for expressing contrary opinions online.
While acknowledging that the Act was initially designed to combat cyber fraud—an issue that costs Nigeria around $500 million annually according to the Nigerian Communications Commission—the envoys warned that it is increasingly being used as a tool for censorship.
They cited the example of activist and author Dele Farotimi, who faced multiple charges under the Act after making allegations of judicial corruption. Although the charges were later dropped, the incident, they said, illustrates the potential for abuse.
“The misuse of the Cybercrimes Act undermines democratic advancement and civic participation. It also jeopardises investor confidence and risks slowing the innovation necessary for economic growth,” the statement read.
The diplomats argued that ambiguous terms in the law—such as “false information,” “cyberstalking,” and “harassment”—create legal uncertainty and could deter investment in Nigeria’s digital economy.
They urged Nigerian authorities to align the law with international standards on human rights and democracy, warning that failure to do so could hinder both civic freedom and economic development.
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