₦airaland Forum

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to immediately withdraw the Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations, 2019, describing them as “unconstitutional, unlawful and inconsistent with Nigeria’s international obligations.”

The organisation also called on the President to initiate a transparent and inclusive legislative process to ensure that any lawful interception framework complies with constitutional safeguards, judicial oversight requirements, and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

SERAP’s request was contained in a letter dated February 21, 2026, according to a statement signed and released on Sunday by the organisation’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The letter followed allegations by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, had his phone conversation intercepted.

El-Rufai reportedly claimed, “The NSA’s call was tapped. They do that to our calls too, and we heard him saying they should arrest me.”

Blaming the LICR 2019 for the occurrence of such an incident, SERAP stated that “the Regulations establish a sweeping mass surveillance regime that violates Nigerians’ constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights, including to privacy and freedom of expression.”

SERAP said the regulations grant “overly broad and vague powers to intercept communications on grounds such as ‘national security,’ ‘economic wellbeing,’ and ‘public emergency,’ without adequate judicial safeguards, independent oversight, transparency, or effective remedies.”

According to SERAP, the Regulations raise serious concerns, particularly as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.

“Surveillance measures that lack strict necessity, proportionality and independent judicial oversight can easily be weaponised against political opponents, journalists, civil society actors and election observers.

“In an electoral climate, even the perception that private communications are being monitored can chill political organising, investigative reporting and voter mobilisation.

“Free and fair elections depend on confidential communications, protected journalistic sources and open democratic debate. Any misuse of intercepted data for intimidation, political advantage or disinformation would fundamentally undermine Nigerians’ right to political participation and electoral integrity.

“As 2027 approaches, interception powers must be narrowly defined, subject to prior independent judicial authorisation and backed by effective remedies. Without robust safeguards, these Regulations risk threatening privacy rights, freedom of expression and the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process,” the letter partly read.

SERAP stated that it would take legal action if its recommendations were not implemented within seven days of receipt or publication of the letter.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.


“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest,” the letter said.

Citing the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the organisation noted that “mass surveillance programmes based on indiscriminate and blanket collection of personal data are arbitrary per se and can never satisfy the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.”

It added, “The mere retention or storage of personal data relating to an individual’s private life constitutes an interference with this right—whether or not the data is subsequently accessed or used.

“Secret surveillance and bulk data collection create a permanent risk of misuse, profiling and abuse, particularly given the formidable technologies available to state authorities.”

SERAP argued that the government has a positive obligation to adopt clear laws, effective safeguards, independent oversight mechanisms, and accessible remedies to prevent abuse, adding that such duties extend to private actors, including telecommunications providers and technology companies.

The group stated that the Nigerian Communications Commission, while exercising its powers under Section 70 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, adopted the Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations, 2019.

It said Regulation 4 grants broad discretionary interception powers to the National Security Adviser and the State Security Services, with minimal clarity regarding the scope or limits of such discretion.

According to SERAP, Regulation 23 expands the category of “authorised agencies” to include bodies such as the Nigeria Police Force, National Intelligence Agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and any other agency the Commission may designate.

“This creates ambiguity and undermines legal certainty. Nigerians cannot reasonably know which authorities are empowered to intercept their communications, making the Regulations unpredictable and prone to arbitrary application and abuse,” the organisation stated.

It further argued that Regulation 8 permits interception without a warrant in situations involving consent, threats to life, or actions in the “ordinary course of business,” which it described as overly broad.

SERAP also raised concerns over the retention and archiving of intercepted communications for up to three years under Regulation 6, the disclosure of encryption keys under Regulation 9, and emergency interception powers under Regulation 12, which allow warrantless surveillance on broad grounds including “national security” and “organised crime.”

The organisation maintained that while it acknowledges the government’s responsibility to address national security and organised crime, such objectives must be pursued within constitutional and international human rights limits.

Source: https://punchng.com/stop-unlawful-mass-phone tapping-rules-serap-urges-tinubu

They can't because it's their thing

Serap should sharaaaappppppp
That's what government worldwide do.
Even the USA/Russia/China apart from listening to their own citizens, listen to conversation of other country presidents and important personalities of interest......

So it is nothing new, why is SERAP behaving like idiots.
If you are not sabotaging your country or planing evil against your country, what is there to be afraid of.....

So this is what they have been doing to Nigerians and calling themselves Master strategist... Imagine the kind of blackmail that has made these governors move

gigabyte13:
Serap should sharaaaappppppp
That's what government worldwide do.
Even the USA/Russia/China apart from listening to their own citizens, listen to conversation of other country presidents and important personalities of interest......

So it is nothing new, why is SERAP behaving like idiots.
If you are not sabotaging your country or planing evil against your country, what is there to be afraid of.....

If there is any organisation that should be called busy body, it Serap

I have to be frank... I don't know who is listening to my calls... Whether it is the government or El Rufai...

But I know I have been wiretapped!

Simply use WhatsApp app for your calls

It’s extremely shameful that power supply has gone from bad to worst under this administration, too bad despite all tax deductions and loans , you are still unable to give us light to run our business, this is pure wickedness

So you see what they do and then turn around and be forming strategist... Thank Elrufai opened this... Do you knw how many of these billionaires that have access to that same tech... This country is truely lawless

gigabyte13:
Serap should sharaaaappppppp
That's what government worldwide do.
Even the USA/Russia/China apart from listening to their own citizens, listen to conversation of other country presidents and important personalities of interest......

So it is nothing new, why is SERAP behaving like idiots.
If you are not sabotaging your country or planing evil against your country, what is there to be afraid of.....

Nigeria is just like zoo,Hunters and Animals

What then is the government doing in providing adequate security for citizens since they have this gestapo-styled law in their disposal?

Tosslaw:
Nigeria is just like zoo,Hunters and Animals

one must surely eat one 1

tincityboy:
So you see what they do and then turn around and be forming strategist... Thank Elrufai opened this... Do you know how many of these billionaires that have access to that same tech... This country is truely lawless

El Rufai kehhhhhhh
It is nothing new in government tapping citizens phone calls.
Are you still living in stone ages.....
So it is El Rufai that made you know that government taps citizens calls....??
Are you for real .....
Like in 2026, El Rufai made you know this...
Chaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

gigabyte13:
Serap should sharaaaappppppp
That's what government worldwide do.
Even the USA/Russia/China apart from listening to their own citizens, listen to conversation of other country presidents and important personalities of interest......

So it is nothing new, why is SERAP behaving like idiots.
If you are not sabotaging your country or planing evil against your country, what is there to be afraid of.....

You have no idea what you are saying. The US government has rules about phone tapping. There is a reason why people are very unhappy when this is found out!

So you are happy they are doing this cos na tinu u be president or what?... Do you knw this invasion of privacy has no party affiliation limitation?.. You might even be a victim .. do you understand the gravity of what they are doing?...

gigabyte13:
Serap should sharaaaappppppp
That's what government worldwide do.
Even the USA/Russia/China apart from listening to their own citizens, listen to conversation of other country presidents and important personalities of interest......

So it is nothing new, why is SERAP behaving like idiots.
If you are not sabotaging your country or planing evil against your country, what is there to be afraid of.....

Government or APC .. which one are we talkjng about ?

gigabyte13:
El Rufai kehhhhhhh
It is nothing new in government tapping citizens phone calls.
Are you still living in stone ages.....
So it is El Rufai that made you know that government taps citizens calls....??
Are you for real .....
Like in 2026, El Rufai made you know this...
Chaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

You de engage the dude?... Sick people everywhere... See what he is trying to justify

Druss:
You have no idea what you are saying. The US government has rules about phone tapping. There is a reason why people are very unhappy when this is found out!

With all the tapping resources at their disposal what have they done with it other than gagging the press and intimidating Nigerians who don't agree with them. Terrorists are reigning supreme everywhere in the North, yet they can't track them down.

Thank God we are practicing democracy in Nigeria, can serap tell this to secret agencies in Russia, China, north Korea or Iran even CIA in America the beacon of democracy.

How did they think those secret agencies gathered their intelligent report.

They can't intercept WhatsApp calls, or can they?

gigabyte13:
Serap should sharaaaappppppp
That's what government worldwide do.
Even the USA/Russia/China apart from listening to their own citizens, listen to conversation of other country presidents and important personalities of interest......

So it is nothing new, why is SERAP behaving like idiots.
If you are not sabotaging your country or planing evil against your country, what is there to be afraid of.....

Its always one of you guys that come out to baark, just because you have to support your guy in power.

SERAP is citing the international laws that govern such acts,
You are here meowing.

A guy i met in camp in 20i8 in Katsina State. I redeployed to Ogun state Ota and i met this same guy. I was posted to school and one evening i was taking a walk and i met this this same guy, Fola, he showed me where he stays which is not far from my PPA.
I went to met him the next day and in my usual unserious playful mode, I told him bro abeg cut me soap see as you the ball. What started as a joke soon became something that have altered my life in a way i can't even Imagin. He took a pin and pieced my finger and used the blood to touch something he brought from his bathroom and gave me a leaf to hang on my windows and not to allow it to touch the ground and after three to four days i should go outside and burry it close to where there is running water or tap. and i should go there at night to make requests or wishes. While all of this was going on i was seriously praying in my mind whit the intention that once i get out, i will just throw the leaf, when i got out, that was how i took the leaf to my house and did exactly what he asked me to do, now the funniest thing is that I completely forgot I did anything of such ofter the third day. It’s been 7 years already and as though I those thing I said are happening . How do I put an end to this thing

And yet they can't even wiretap bandits and bokoharam apostles 🤔🤔

Na wa oo

Life must be very frustrating for this SERAP. They always make noise without any result to show for it.

That moise maybe all it takes to keep the crooks in charge of the nation on their tippy toes
But as someone said it is very disgraceful that with all the technology at the disposal of the intelligence services they still can't end terrorism and insecurity
But they can release the Yes daddy phone taps

wellmax:
Life must be very frustrating for this SERAP. They always make noise without any result to show for it.

Guestmale:
Thank God we are practicing democracy in Nigeria, can serap tell this to secret agencies in Russia, China, north Korea or Iran even CIA in America the beacon of democracy.

How did they think those secret agencies gathered their intelligent report.

There are laws that govern such acts abroad and that's exactly what SERAP is saying here, guess you didn't read the article or you actually did but failed to understand it's contents.

joachimnkenchor:
They can't because it's their thing

I know that is what you will say cus any shit they throw out you grabbed it without checking if its true or not.

As of today it is your messiah el rufai who is an official phone tapper so what is your take about that?

Who is SERAP and what is SERAP? They are one of those noise makers headed by eze ndi efu followers.

FCT election dey pain una like mad una neva see anything yet more is loading...

tincityboy:
So you are happy they are doing this cos na tinu u be president or what?... Do you knw this invasion of privacy has no party affiliation limitation?.. You might even be a victim .. do you understand the gravity of what they are doing?...

What are you afraid of.....?
If you are not attempting to sabotage your own country.....?

But if the FG can do this why are they not tracking kidnapers, terrorists and some other bad guys in the country?

It is the job of state security to tap phone lines because we live in a very dangerous world

FutureFocus:
Simply use WhatsApp app for your calls

It’s extremely shameful that power supply has gone from bad to worst under this administration, too bad despite all tax deductions and loans , you are still unable to give us light to run our business, this is pure wickedness

Bro, it is just so pathetic. I want to run mad. Tinubu should be ready because na 15m I go use buy fuel and maintain generator be that when I want to acct for my business then.