Paradigm Initiative warns of data leak in Nigeria
A leading African digital rights and inclusion organisation, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), has raised concerns about the safety of Nigerians’ personal data online, warning that sensitive information has been exposed and available for sale on the internet for the past three years. Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the organisation’s Executive Director, Gbenga […]
A leading African digital rights and inclusion organisation, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), has raised concerns about the safety of Nigerians’ personal data online, warning that sensitive information has been exposed and available for sale on the internet for the past three years.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the organisation’s Executive Director, Gbenga Sesan, called on the government to take urgent steps to address what he described as a persistent data security challenge.
Sesan said data belonging to top government officials and citizens has been compromised, stressing the need for stronger measures to protect personal information and restore public trust in Nigeria’s digital systems.
He noted that while the country has made progress in technology, more work is required to safeguard digital rights such as privacy, online protection, freedom of expression, and access to information.
Sesan also acknowledged the support of partners, including the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ford Foundation, Luminate, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Mott Foundation, Open Society Foundations, IDRC, and the Internet Society Foundation, in sustaining the organisation’s work.
The group highlighted its Stemming the Tide of Abuse in Nigeria’s Digital Space (STANDS) Project, which combines litigation, advocacy, evidence-building, and capacity development to strengthen digital rights and protections.
Chief Operating Officer, Nnenna Paul-Ugochukwu, outlined PIN’s broader impact across Africa, including scholarships for students from Ajegunle, research reports, digital toolkits, and award-winning short films promoting digital rights.
Senior Programme Officer for Anglophone West Africa, Khadija El-Usman, presented the 2024 Nigeria Londa Report, which scored Nigeria 36 out of 60 on digital rights and inclusion, placing the country in the “moderately compliant” category. She said the score reflects both progress and setbacks, directly impacting how citizens connect, speak, and participate in the digital economy.
Paradigm Initiative stressed that millions of Nigerians, particularly those in rural areas, women, and persons with disabilities, still face affordability, access, and digital literacy barriers that hinder meaningful participation online.