200 Journalists March For Freedom Of Expression in Nigeria

In response to the increased criminalization of free speech, on July 10th, a group of civic space defenders and Nigerian journalists have begun a campaign with the slogan #DontPoliceMySpeech in Abuja. The campaign is a demand for the abuse of power and the misuse of the Cybercrimes Act by Nigerian authorities to come to an end. Its main focus is the way the Act has been misused and weaponized to silence activists, journalists and ordinary citizens from using their rights to free speech and expression.

While the Cybercrimes act was designed to combat online criminal activity, it has become a way to silence dissent. Although section 24 of the Act has been recently amended, that has not stopped Nigerian security agencies from misusing it in violation of the Nigerian constitution.

Not only have twenty-five journalists been illegally arrested under President Bola Tinubu’s administration since he assumed office in May 2023, regular citizens have also fallen victim. One of which is Mrs Okoli, an innocent woman who was prosecuted for reviewing a tomato paste she bought with her own money, leaving Nigerians outraged. What these cases show is that expressing one’s opinion is dangerous.

The campaign not only released a public service announcement (PSA) video, but also a set of posters depicting multiple ways Nigerian security authorities have violated the rights of citizens and citizens to silence them. Furthermore, approximately 200 journalists, civil society organizations, and citizens held a peaceful march at the Ministry of Justice in a bid to demand an end to unlawful arrests and infringements on freedom of expression. Key demands of the coalition include immediate end to police abuse of power, ensuring justice is properly ordered and the protection of fundamental rights for all Nigerians.

During the march, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists reminded those present that, “Freedom of expression is entrenched in the Nigerian Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, of which Nigeria is a signatory. The Advocacy Lead at Gatefield, Shirley Ewang, added that, “The stifling of the press and public discourse is authoritarian and undermines citizens’ rights to demand accountability. Nigerians are weary of these abuses under what is supposed to be a democratic government. We call on the Ministry of Justice to cease using taxpayers’ money to prosecute journalists for exercising their right to freedom of expression.”