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CITAD Urges INEC, NITDA, Others To Respect Citizens’ Data Rights,Privacy

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By Ozumi Abdul

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its sister government agencies such as National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, National Human Rights Commission, as well as all the security agencies in the country to ensure the protection of citizens data, privacy and respect their rights online, during and after the 2023 general elections.

The call was made during a press conference held at the organization’s head office in Kano on Thursday.

While delivering the text of the press conference, the CITAD Digital Right Manager, Ali Sabo declared that it is important to note that the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms has clearly spelt out that the freedom and privacy of individual online are respected and protected.

He added that these rights correspond to the fundamental rights provided in the Declaration on Human Rights as Freedom of Expression, Right to Information, Freedom of Assembly and Association, as well as the right to personal privacy and dignity.

He said that the UN has recognized the right to Internet as fourth generation rights, and the right to Internet as means to access these offline rights has at its core the issues of Privacy and Personal Data Protection.

Sabo noted that any breach of the above is a negation to Nigerian commitment to Human Rights as well as other international covenants on human rights, including the African Charter on Peoples and Human Rights.

Sabo recalled that before the month of February, preceding the presidential and national assembly elections, that his organization held similar press conference to draw the attentions of the INEC and its sister government agencies to the need to protect and respect the digital rights of the citizens during and after elections.

He said security agencies, especially the police were also enjoined to avoid doing the hatchet job for politicians by unnecessarily arresting citizens as criticisms are part and parcel of democracy, but however regretted that despite this call, that serious cases of intimidations and harassments by the security agents were still recorded in some parts of the country during the last month’s 25, presidential and national assembly elections.

“Gentlemen of the press, you are aware that in the month of February before the presidential and national assembly elections, we held similar press conference were we drew the attention of the INEC and its sisters government agencies on the need to ensure the protection of the citizens data and privacy.

“Similarly, in the same month we called the attention of the Nigerian Police Force against the arbitrary arrest of citizens on the order of some overzealous politicians who misused their offices to trample on the fundamental human rights of the citizens. It is a well-known fact that “criticism is part and parcel of any democracy and it is one of the cardinal pillars through which democracy is being build”, but governments in Nigeria on many occasions, have displayed arrogance, impunity and lack of tolerance where at any slight instance they have ordered the arrest of the citizens for excising their fundamental human rights of expressing their opinions.

“If you could recall, in presidential and national assembly elections which is being held on the 25th of February, 2023 sad incidences happened in some part of the country, where reported cases of intimidation, harassment and malfunctioning of elections materials such as Biomodal Accreditation System (BVAS) were recorded.

“This month’s press conference is necessary at this time looking at what has happened in the presidential and national assembly elections. It is imperative for us as an organization working on the area of upholding electoral integrity, human rights and digital rights in Nigeria to draw the attention of all the stakeholders, especially security agencies and those who have citizens’ data in their custody, on the importance of protecting and safeguarding the rights of the Nigerian citizens, both online and offline and ensuring that their data is safe and not be misused or tempered with.

“This call is necessary because there is genuine information as we indicated in the previous press conference that government agencies have purchased surveillance systems to track and monitor people, most especially activists, journalists, opponents and those they consider threat to their interests. As Civil Society actors we consider this as a threat to not only the fundamental human rights of the citizens but to our democracy as this exposes citizens to privacy abuse.

“Furthermore, it is important to emphasize the need for respecting the privacy of individuals and ensuring that their data is being kept in a safer place and not allow third person to have access to it.

Consequently, he now called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the protection and confidentiality of the people’s mandate and not allow anybody to tamper with it, to ensure that all the election electronic materials such BVAS are in good condition in order to avoid what happened in the presidential and national assembly election

He also enjoined the INEC to ensure the early delivery of election materials to polling units across the country, as well as ensuring that all election results are being uploaded to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) as stipulated in the 2022 Electoral Act.

The CITAD Digital Right manager also charged the Nigeria Police Force to desist from being used by politicians to intimidate voters, journalists and election observers during the election , while also calling on the National Information Technology Development Agency, Nigeria Communications Commission, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, National Identity Management Commission, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to not allow themselves to be used or transmit citizens data to a third person for any reason unless this request is by a competent court.

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African Media Network (REMAPSEN) Appoints Nigerian Journalist Khadija as Deputy National Coordinator

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Khadija Aliyu

 

REMAPSEN, an African media network, has appointed Khadija Aliyu as Deputy National Coordinator for its Nigeria office.
This announcement was made in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bamboo Yousuf.

Khadija Aliyu is an ace broadcaster and a senior correspondent with Radio Nigeria. She graduated from the Department of Mass Communications at Bayero University Kano in 2008 and later obtained a master’s degree in Communication Studies from the same institution.”

REMAPSEN, AN OVERVIEW
REMAPSEN is an African media network for the promotion of good health and environment.

It was established on June 13, 2020 by some journalists in the Francophone countries with passion for public health concerns as they affect children and women as well as environment.

The aim is to build a network of African journalists who are committed to using their platforms to help people overcome challenges from health emergencies, epidemics and other health concerns, and environment issues.

The Nigerian arm; REMAPSEN NIGERIA, was inaugurated at an international conference of the forum in Lome, Togo on 23rd November, 2023, along with Ghana, Liberia, Mauritania and other Anglophone countries.

REMAPSEN International headquarters currently sits at Abidjan, capital of Cote d’ivoire with Mr Bamba Youssouf as the President.

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Dangote Cement Plc Launches Malaria Programme in Edo

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The Sustainability and Social Performance Department of Dangote Cement Plc will be implementing a malaria intervention programme at communities in Okpella, Edo State.

The health intervention programme, according to a statement from the company, will run for two days around the host communities of the Dangote Cement Plc, Okpella.

The statement said the “intervention is part of efforts to advance the Safer and Healthier Communities (SHC) initiative to promotes access to health and wellbeing of our host communities and their neighbours through structured health interventions and public health awareness campaigns.”

It added that: “Malaria is another key area of the DCP Group’s public health focus besides HIV/AIDS.”

It said that Dangote Cement Plc had initiated its Safer and Healthier Communities (SHC) programme in 2022 with the implementation of the pilot phase of the HIV/AIDS intervention programme in three transit communities in Gboko, Benue state.

Speaking, Head of Social Perfomance of the Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, said the two-day event (9th and 10th May) would feature awareness campaigns testing and referrals, distribution of treated nets, mosquito creams, ultrasonic anti-mosquito insect repellant, rechargeable electric mosquito killer swatter and other mosquito repellant paraphernalia. The Public Health officials will also offer counselling and referral services.

The intervention is the company’s response to reports that Edo state records an estimated 1.2 million malaria cases with a 317/1000 per location or geographical area. As a socially responsible company, Dangote Cement implements this initiative as contribution to safeguarding the lives of populations of high risk of malaria, which includes children, pregnant women and the elderly.
The Head of Sustainability, Dr. Igazeuma Okoroba providing context on the partnership of the programme expressed appreciation to the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Edo State chapter, the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, and Nigrowth Consults Services – implementing partner.

According to her, the project which supports Sustainable Development Goal 3_ Good Health and Wellbeing, is another effort of the Dangote Cement Okpella to demonstrate its solidarity with stakeholders in Edo state and the health sector at large.

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Nile leads as MAAUN ranked 2nd best private university in Northern Nigeria

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The AD Scientific Index ranking 2024 has ranked the Nile University, Abuja, as the best private university in Northern Nigeria.

According to the ranking made available on the website of the AD Scientific, titled: ‘Nigeria Private Universities Ranking 2024’, the Maryam Abacha American University, MAAUN, emerged second best university in the North.

This is as the American University of Nigeria, AUN, was ranked third in the same category.

In the overall ranking, Redeemers University was ranked 1st University in Nigeria, followed by Covenant University Ota and Afe Babalola University, which emerged 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Nile University, founded in 2009, was ranked 10th, MAAUN, established in 2021 in Kano, was ranked 11th, while AUN got ranked as the 13th university.

Al Qalam University in Katsina was ranked 33rd, Al Hikmah University Ilorin 39th and
Skyline University 42nd

MAAUN was established in 2021 by renowned philanthropist Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, who is also the founder of Niger’s best private university, Maryam Abacha American University of Niger.

Prof. Dr Bikash Sharma, co-founder and president of International Academic and Management Association, described the ranking as a stepping stone for MAAUN.

“It’s high time that we did a complete overhaul of the education system globally, employing the best lecturers, and equipping our universities with the best facilities.

“MAAUN achieving this feat in less than 3 tears is not surprising. The founder has proved his commitment to standard and internationalisation.

“It is high time that we move from traditional teaching to experiential learning,” he said.

On his part, Isa Gwadabe, an educationist, hailed MAAUN for projecting its image through commitment to academic excellence.

“This is not an achievement to the institution alone but to the entire Kano State and Nigeria in particular. Among all the universities that were given licences together, MAAUN is leading in just less than 3 years.

AD Scientific Index is one of the best rankings for scientists in the world.

“I hope other institutions will emulate MAAUN towards achieving this great feat.”

The “AD Scientific Index” in its website said the University Rankings will not only show the areas in which a university is best or focused but also reflect the results of the institutions’ scientific recruitment policies.

This feature reveals the ability of institutions to attract successful scientists and the ability of institutions to promote advances and retain scientists.

“AD Scientific Index” is the only university/institution ranking system that analyzes the distribution of scientists in an institution according to the top % 10, %20, %40, %60, % 80 percentiles and total scientists.

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