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Reps Pledge to Protect Nigerians’ Digital Rights, Strengthen Public Communication
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the digital rights of Nigerians through fair and well-considered digital legislation.
It also restated its dedication to accurate and innovative public communication as a way of strengthening institutional trust and improving service delivery across the country.
The House Spokesperson and Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi, stated this during a joint capacity-building retreat of Legislative Aides and the House of Representatives Press Corps on digital governance and legislative reporting, organised by the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs with support from Paradigm Initiative in Abuja on Monday.
In his opening remarks, the House Spokesperson stressed that democracy works best when citizens are properly informed, noting that access to clear and reliable information is essential for meaningful public engagement and accountability.
He said “Our vision is clear: to position the 10th Assembly as The People’s House, a Parliament that is trusted, responsive, and results-driven. Our mission is equally clear: to deliver timely, factual, and innovative public communication that strengthens institutional credibility and supports effective service delivery.
“This retreat reflects a deliberate commitment by the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs to invest in professionalism, ethics, competence, and institutional coherence in legislative communication.
“It reflects a broader reform journey guiding the work of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs. Democracy functions best when citizens are well informed, when institutions communicate responsibly and when the media ecosystem upholds professionalism and public interest”.
Rep. Rotimi noted that “As the volume of digital-related legislation before the National Assembly continues to grow, the responsibility to report such matters with insight,
balance, and technical understanding also grows.
“This gathering is timely and strategic. The legislative environment now operates within complex questions of digital governance, data protection, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, online safety, and digital rights.
“The responsibility to interpret these issues accurately and present them clearly to the Nigerian people rests on two key groups represented here today: the accredited Press Corps covering the National Assembly and the media teams that support members and House leadership”.
In his goodwill message, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Gbenga Sesan sad Nigeria’s desire to achieve a trillion dollar economy cannot be attained without digital security.
According to him, the media and youths in Nigeria can make digital communication an emergency issue.
While speaking on mapping digital legislation in Nigeria, Sesan took an overview of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, AI and Innovation Bills, Digital Rights and Freedoms Bills, National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill, Cybercrimes Acts amendments and the Child Online Access Protection Bill.
He explained that child protection laws affect adult access as they lead to “Over protection of documents/information in the guide of child protection”.
Earlier, welcoming participants, Chairman House Press Corps, Comrade Gboyega Onadiran commended the praised the organisers for the Initiative of putting together the event.
He noted that journalism has moved beyond headlines as the media.
“Now work in a digital ecosystem shaped by data, algorithms, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and online rights.
“How we understand these issues and how we explain them to the Nigerian public matters deeply.
“As members of the Press Corps, our duty is not just to report what happens in the House, but to make the work of Parliament understandable, credible, and relevant to citizens. This, we have been doing patriotically and ethically“, he stated.
The Federal Government has expressed serious concern over the rising cases of Nigerian citizens being illegally recruited to participate in foreign armed conflicts, warning that such activities pose grave risks to lives and violate both national and international laws.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who disclosed that the recent media investigations and security reports revealed that several Nigerians were allegedly recruited under false pretences, including promises of lucrative employment, security jobs, educational opportunities, or migration incentives.
Many of the victims were reportedly deployed to active combat zones after being misled or coerced into signing military service contracts.
“Recruitment tactics often involve deceptive offers of high monthly salaries, signing bonuses, and fast-tracked citizenship,” the Ministry noted.
In some cases, victims were compelled to sign contracts written in foreign languages without proper legal guidance, while their travel documents were allegedly confiscated upon arrival. Reports also indicate the involvement of intermediaries who facilitate travel under tourist or other non-military visa categories.
The Nigerian government unequivocally warned citizens against accepting any offer that involves participation in foreign armed conflicts, stressing that such actions endanger lives and may contravene laws regulating mercenary activities and foreign enlistment.
“Individuals who engage in such activities outside approved governmental frameworks do so at their own risk,” the Ministry emphasised.
To curb the trend, the government is working with relevant domestic and international partners to investigate developments and intensify public awareness of the dangers of illegal recruitment.
Nigerian missions abroad have also been directed to strengthen consular vigilance and provide timely advisory services to citizens.
The Ministry further called on parents, guardians, community leaders, and educational institutions to educate young Nigerians about the risks associated with deceptive foreign recruitment schemes. Citizens were advised to verify all overseas employment or study opportunities through official government channels and to report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
The Nigerian government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare and dignity of its citizens at home and abroad, reiterating that citizens must not be exploited or trafficked into foreign armed conflicts under any circumstances.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sympathised with traders and residents of Kano following a devastating fire outbreak at Singer Market, ordering a comprehensive investigation into the recurring incidents.
The fire, which reportedly started on Saturday evening and raged into Sunday morning, causing extensive damage to the popular food market, destroying goods and leaving many traders counting their losses.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the incident as tragic and expressed deep concern over the impact on livelihoods.
President Tinubu said he had reached out to Abba Kabir Yusuf to obtain a firsthand-situation report on the disaster.
“This tragic incident is deeply concerning, especially coming less than two weeks after another fire outbreak at the same market. My thoughts are with the affected traders and their families,” the President was quoted as saying.
He directed relevant authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the causes of the repeated fires, stressing that urgent measures must be taken to prevent future occurrences.
“The recurring market fires that leave our hardworking traders in despair must be addressed decisively. I have ordered a comprehensive investigation to determine the causes and recommend lasting solutions,” Tinubu stated.
Ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has accused the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) of procuring a highly toxic chemical compound, thallium sulphate, allegedly capable of being used for assassinations.
In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, El-Rufai claimed that information available to opposition political leaders suggested that the office of the National Security Adviser, headed by Nuhu Ribadu, had imported approximately 10 kilograms of thallium sulphate from a supplier in Poland.
The former governor said he had formally written to the ONSA seeking urgent clarification over the alleged transaction, describing the matter as one of grave public concern.
Do not enlist in foreign armed conflicts, FG warns citizens
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