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Protecting Nigeria’s Shrinking Civic Space with Responsible Security

Published

1 year ago

September 14, 2025

theheute

Nigeria’s civic space suffers alarming decline as repression, surveillance and censorship erode democratic freedoms nationwide

It is the invisible structure holding institutions together, where citizens speak, dissent, organise and imagine.

Also read: Nigeria Reinstates VAT in New Aviation Tax Policy 2026

Yet for decades, this space has been steadily shrinking, with consequences that cut to the heart of Nigeria’s democratic dignity.

The erosion is not new. From colonial repression to years of military authoritarianism, the Nigerian state has repeatedly treated dissent as a danger.

Even the return to democracy in 1999 failed to undo this legacy. Instead, it was rebranded with new laws such as the Cybercrime Act, the NGO Regulation Bill and amendments to CAMA, all introduced as tools of order but often used to restrict and silence.

The CIVICUS Monitor now classifies Nigeria’s civic space as “Repressed”, while Reporters Without Borders ranks the country 112 out of 180 on its 2024 Press Freedom Index.

Journalists and activists continue to face intimidation, harassment and arbitrary detention, particularly around elections.

Across the six geopolitical zones, the impact is stark. In the North-East, aid workers operate under suspicion while millions await relief.

In the North-West, displaced communities and opposition voices face clampdowns. In the South-West, digital youth dissent, most visibly during the #EndSARS protests, has been met with arrests and deadly force.

The South-East lives under the shadow of separatist agitation, while the Niger Delta’s environmental campaigners face hostility despite devastating oil spills.

Observers note that Nigeria’s shrinking civic space is systemic, not the product of one government.

Security agencies equate dissent with destabilisation. Regulators enforce laws without civic literacy.

Citizens demanding accountability are cast as adversaries. In this cycle of mistrust, democracy itself weakens.

Yet young Nigerians are not silent. With over 122 million internet users, most under 35, they have become the new drivers of civic action.

Their digital energy, however, is checked by surveillance, vague cybercrime laws and algorithmic silencing.

The country’s future will depend on whether the state embraces digital dignity or tightens digital control.

Global lessons—from Tunisia’s civic councils to Kenya’s digital rights charters—suggest that laws alone cannot secure civic space. Dialogue, trust and respect are essential.

In Nigeria, the challenge lies in striking a balance between security and freedom. Civic space is not a luxury to be postponed until insecurity is resolved.

It is, in truth, the foundation of security itself.

If Nigeria can reclaim its civic space with courage and compassion, it will not only preserve democracy but also renew its promise.

The true strength of the nation lies not in how tightly it controls its people, but in how deeply it can trust them.

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Adeboye Ordered Refund of Billions in Illicit Donations, EFCC Reveals

Published

2 hours ago

November 8, 2026

Mariam Balogun

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, ordered the refund of billions of naira donated towards a church project after the funds were traced to proceeds of financial crime, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed.

Olukoyede said Adeboye directed the immediate return of the money within 24 hours after the church was informed of the findings of the commission’s investigation.

The EFCC chairman made the disclosure while addressing RCCG workers in the early hours of Saturday, November 7, during a meeting organised ahead of the church’s annual Holy Ghost Congress.

According to Church Times Nigeria, which reported the development, Adeboye had invited Olukoyede to speak to the workers on financial propriety, accountability and the importance of maintaining transparent financial records.

Recounting the incident, Olukoyede said a church member had donated billions of naira towards an RCCG project, but investigations by the commission later established that the money originated from financial crime.

He said the church was alerted to the findings, following which Adeboye ordered that the donation be returned.

Olukoyede commended the cleric for responding promptly and directing the refund within 24 hours of receiving the information.

However, the EFCC chairman did not disclose the identity of the donor, the exact amount involved or the particular church project for which the donation was made.

The anti-graft agency chief expressed concern over cases involving religious leaders and financial misconduct, including questionable transactions and allegations relating to contracts for church projects.

He warned church workers and religious leaders against accepting donations from individuals whose sources of wealth had not been properly established.

Olukoyede, who is also an ordained pastor, stressed that religious institutions must not become channels through which proceeds of crime are concealed or given legitimacy.

He also recounted a separate case involving another church allegedly connected to a Ponzi scheme.

According to him, the church leader initially resisted the EFCC’s intervention but later refunded a substantial amount after the commission threatened to institute legal proceedings.

The EFCC chairman said the commission would not spare individuals involved in financial crimes because of their religious positions or affiliations.

He further cautioned RCCG workers against excessive materialism, unhealthy competition and struggles for leadership positions, warning that such tendencies could encourage financial misconduct.

Olukoyede also raised concerns about reports of individuals allegedly offering bribes to secure leadership positions within the church.

He urged pastors to exercise due diligence before accepting donations, insisting that they should establish how contributors made their money rather than focus solely on the size of their financial commitments.

In his response, Adeboye reportedly assured the EFCC chairman that the church would not protect anyone found involved in financial wrongdoing.

The cleric also urged RCCG pastors to maintain accurate financial records and ensure that their activities were free from corruption.