Category: Daily Trust

In the past decade, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has embarked on several strikes that have shut down public universities for hundreds of days – at enormous cost to students, families, and the nation’s development. The latest two-week warning strike is yet another chapter in the long, tragic story of promises broken and education betrayed.

Once again, the gates of Nigeria’s public universities are closed – not by lecturers who dislike teaching, nor by students who detest learning, but by a government that has turned deceit into policy.

The action declared by ASUU on October 13, 2025, is not an act of rebellion but a cry for justice which is an expression of frustration against a system built on betrayal, arrogance, and calculated indifference.

For the umpteenth time, the federal government has toyed with the education sector by signing agreements it never intends to honour, masking its failures with propaganda, and treating dialogue as an inconvenience rather than a duty.

This strike, as always, is not born of greed but of grief. ASUU’s demands remain simple, patriotic, and long overdue: revitalization funds for collapsing universities, earned allowances for overworked lecturers, and the genuine implementation of agreements freely entered into years ago.

Regrettably, instead of keeping its word, the government prefers to recycle deceit – setting up committees that do nothing and issuing memos that mean even less.

In the past 10 years alone, public universities have lost more than 700 academic days to strikes. The 2020 industrial action alone lasted for about nine months, with devastating consequences for students whose academic journeys were disrupted and dreams deferred.

At a press conference on October 12, 2025, ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, declared that the union had reached its limit. ‘There has been no meaningful progress to prevent the union from moving forward with its planned industrial action,’ he said, describing the government’s response as ‘a paper without substance, a promise without soul.’ It was, he added, further proof that the government neither listens nor learns.

Rather than engage with sincerity, the government resorted to its habitual threat – the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy. Vice-Chancellors were directed to take roll calls and withhold the salaries of striking lecturers. Such a response exposes not only the government’s insensitivity but also its misunderstanding of the issue. The ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy assumes ASUU’s struggle is about money. It is not. It is about integrity, national survival, and the restoration of a decaying university system.

Professor Piwuna’s response was firm and dignified: ‘We don’t respond to threats. Nobody can threaten us.’ His words echo the frustrations of thousands of lecturers who continue to teach in overcrowded classrooms, with obsolete equipment, unpaid salaries, and crumbling facilities. How do you threaten those who already endure deprivation in defence of knowledge? How do you intimidate people whose only demand is that government should honour its word?

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in a strong show of solidarity, has thrown its weight behind ASUU. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, condemned the government’s position and described the ‘No Work, No Pay’ order as a distortion of justice. ‘The breach of contract lies with the state, not the scholars,’ he said. ‘The lecturers are willing to work, but the government, by reneging on its commitments, has made it impossible for them to do so with dignity.’ The NLC has warned that if the crisis is not resolved after the two-week warning strike, the entire labour movement will join the struggle. Its message is clear: an injury to one is an injury to all.

Every ASUU strike is born out of broken promises. Each dishonoured agreement becomes the seed of another shutdown. When classrooms fall silent, it is not a victory for the union but a failure of leadership. For a government that claims to champion reform, it is shameful that it cannot reform itself into honesty.

How can a nation progress when its leaders prefer propaganda to dialogue and intimidation to sincerity? How can a country build a future when those who build minds are treated as adversaries?

ASUU’s struggle is not a fight for privilege but for the soul of education. It is a confrontation with the moral decay that defines governance in Nigeria – a protest against a system that rewards mediocrity and punishes excellence; that starves its teachers while feeding corruption; that sends its leaders’ children abroad to study while neglecting the universities that once shaped them. This is not just hypocrisy; it is moral bankruptcy.

The strike is therefore not an act of defiance but of deliverance – a reminder that education is not an expense but an investment in national survival. When government mocks ASUU’s persistence, it mocks the idea of a thinking nation. When it ignores their demands, it declares war on knowledge. And when it threatens ‘No Work, No Pay,’ it reveals its poverty of morality.

Nigeria’s government has lost credibility. It preaches patriotism yet destroys public institutions. It talks of progress but fears enlightenment. It calls for calm but provokes anger through deceit. There is no honour in governance that cannot keep its word, no progress in policies founded on lies. What ASUU demands is what any responsible government should willingly provide – a functional university system, fair remuneration, and a future that does not drive the youth to flee the country.

It is disheartening that no Nigerian professor earns up to $600 a month, while colleagues in smaller African nations – Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, even Niger Republic – receive between $2,000 and $3,000. Since 1999, the economic cost of ASUU strikes, including lost productivity and damage to infrastructure, is estimated at over ?1.2 trillion. But the greater cost is moral – the erosion of faith in governance and the normalization of deceit.

The current ASUU strike should be seen not as a disruption but as a call to conscience – a desperate reminder that silence in the face of injustice is complicity. ASUU’s action is driven not by hatred but by hope: hope that one day Nigeria will be led by men and women who understand that a nation that starves its universities feeds its own destruction.

When teachers strike, it is not because they hate to teach but because they can no longer endure the insult of a government that refuses to learn. The chalk is crying, classrooms are empty, and the future trembles – waiting for a government that still does not listen. If the Tinubu administration continues to trade sincerity for propaganda, history will remember that ASUU stood firm when truth became unfashionable.

For when a government breaks its promise to its teachers, it breaks its promise to its people. And a nation that betrays its educators has already begun to fail its children.

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has said that his administration’s efforts toward integrating e-governance, transforming public service delivery, deploying technology for job creation, and promoting the digital economy are yielding significant results.

He made this known at the Nigeria GovTech Gala and Awards 2025, organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in Abuja.

The event was held to recognise state governments, public institutions, government agencies, private technology firms, and individuals who have adopted digital innovations in their operations and contributed to building a national digital ecosystem.

Governor Namadi reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maximizing the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for socio-economic growth.

‘Promoting ICT is one of our topmost priorities. We are committed to restoring Jigawa’s status as a pace-setter in e-governance and in the deployment of ICT to drive socio-economic development,’ he said.

He noted that the state had launched the Jigawa State ICT Development Agency, revived moribund ICT facilities, and increased investments to digitise government processes for improved service delivery and accountability.

At the same event, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) was named Best Federal Health Institution in Innovation and Use of Technology.

Its Chief Medical Director, Prof. Yusuf Jibrin, who also received a Trailblazer Award, expressed delight that the hospital’s technological innovations were being recognised, describing the award as motivation to achieve more.

He listed some of the hospital’s initiatives, including the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Integration with the e-CMDS platform, and the establishment of e-class systems for teaching and collaborative research.

In his remarks, the Director-General of BPSR, Dr. Dasuki Arabi, said the COVID-19 pandemic had accelerated global technological adoption, underscoring the need for Nigeria’s public service to keep pace.

‘It is my hope that within the next one or two years, Nigeria’s public service, in terms of digitalisation and quality of service delivery, will rank among the top 20 in the world,’ he stated.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described Borno State as the most resilient state, adding that it has ‘mastered the art of overcoming challenges’ in Nigeria.

The minister stated this when he visited Borno State Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur, in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

The minister was in Maiduguri as part of activities to mark the meeting of the APC Commissioners of Information Forum.

‘Borno State is clearly Nigeria’s most resilient state, against the backdrop of the severe challenges it has experienced in the last decade,’ Idris said.

Idris explained that the people of Borno State deserved to be praised by every Nigerian for their steadfastness and their ability to always bounce back from difficult situations.

Some of the impacts of the activities of Boko Haram and other splinter cells from the dreaded terrorist group include killing and displacement of residents of the state, health challenges, destruction of schools, government and private properties across the state.

Recently, the state has also been hit with the worst level of natural disasters, like flooding, which left several communities and households across Borno devastated.

Borno, which shares borders with Yobe to the west, Gombe to the southwest, and Adamawa to the south, is the only Nigerian state that borders three countries – Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

Nigeria’s agricultural sector faces numerous challenges ranging from erratic rainfall patterns to the long-standing herder-farmer conflicts that have ravaged rural communities for too long. At the heart of this dispute lies the issue of livestock feed, with herders forced to migrate in search of pasture, often resulting in destructive clashes. A breakthrough crop may hold the key to transforming not only the livestock sector but also the nation’s approach to food security.

For what feels like centuries, Nigerian herders have relied on open grazing, while dairy and poultry farmers have struggled with the high cost of imported feed concentrates to meet livestock nutritional needs. Alfalfa, a high-protein forage crop, known globally as ‘green gold,’ is now being tested in Nigeria, particularly in Plateau State, with promising results. This legume, rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, could potentially reduce feed costs, increase livestock productivity, and ease the farmer-herder conflicts that have long plagued the country.

The Plateau Pilot: A Step Toward Transformation

In May 2025, The Alternative Bank, alongside Plateau State University (PLASU) and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, launched a groundbreaking pilot project in Plateau State, testing the viability of cultivating alfalfa in Nigeria. The project, conducted in Bokkos, a highland region with a temperate climate – which is ideal for alfalfa’s growth – has delivered very promising results. At the recently held Green Field Day, researchers affirmed that germination rates exceeded 85%, with plants reaching 66.5 cm in just 13 weeks, and projected yields suggest the crop could produce 18-20 tonnes per hectare annually under rain-fed conditions. These outcomes align with what is achieved in established alfalfa-growing regions across the world.

The significance of this project is immense. Professor Hosea Finangwai, the lead researcher from PLASU, confirmed that these results meet global benchmarks, showing that alfalfa can be successfully cultivated in Nigeria’s diverse climates. Furthermore, laboratory tests revealed that the protein content of the locally grown alfalfa was at par with international standards. This is a crucial breakthrough, as it would allow Nigerian farmers to access high-quality feed that has previously been imported at a high cost.

At the Green and Brown Field Day events organised to showcase the trial, farmers and herders from the region witnessed the positive impact of alfalfa firsthand. Many had never heard of the crop before but were eager to learn about its potential. Herders, who attended the brown field day, saw alfalfa as a solution to reducing the need for cattle migration, which often leads to conflicts with farmers. For farmers, the introduction of alfalfa promised a new income stream and a way to improve livestock health, thereby increasing productivity.

The Time to Make That Move is Now

The success of alfalfa trials in Plateau State is, in more ways than one, a call to action. Nigeria has shown that it can cultivate this ‘green gold’ successfully, but to fully unlock its potential, we must make that move. This is the moment for all stakeholders, from policymakers to farmers and investors, to come together and drive this transformation forward.

The introduction of alfalfa in Nigeria has the potential to create ripple effects that extend beyond the livestock sector. By making alfalfa readily available, Nigeria could address several critical challenges. First, the availability of reliable fodder could significantly reduce the need for pastoral migration, which is one of the root causes of the ongoing farmer-herder conflicts. By transitioning from open grazing to ranching, Nigeria could establish a more settled livestock system, fostering peace between herders and farmers, particularly in regions like the South-West, which has seen rising herder incursions on farms.

Secondly, alfalfa’s nutritional value could boost livestock productivity across Nigeria. Dairy cows fed alfalfa could produce more milk, while beef cattle could reach market weight faster. This would help close the productivity gap between Nigeria and other global livestock producers, ultimately improving the profitability of Nigeria’s livestock sector. With improved feed at lower costs, livestock farming could become more affordable and profitable, helping meet the growing demand for meat and milk in Nigeria. Furthermore, alfalfa farming offers an opportunity for income diversification. Farmers in semi-arid regions of Nigeria could plant alfalfa, providing an income stream that is less vulnerable to climate risks than traditional crops. The growth of fodder markets could create new business opportunities in hay processing, seed production, and feed marketing. Additionally, alfalfa’s environmental benefits such as soil improvement and drought tolerance could help Nigeria achieve its climate-smart agriculture goals by reducing soil erosion and improving land rehabilitation.

The progress seen in Plateau is only the beginning. For alfalfa to truly transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, we must scale up efforts. Government policies must be aligned with initiatives to support alfalfa cultivation across the country. Private sector investment is crucial in creating sustainable seed production systems and ensuring that farmers have access to the resources and knowledge they need to grow this crop successfully. Farmers must also take the next step by adopting new techniques and exploring the potential for alfalfa-based business opportunities.

Scaling Up: Overcoming Challenges

While alfalfa’s potential is clear, several challenges must be addressed to scale it nationwide. Alfalfa thrives in cooler climates, and other regions of Nigeria may require irrigation or modifications to planting techniques. Further trials are needed in northern Nigeria and other areas with different climates to assess its adaptability. The establishment of a local seed production system will be essential, as current reliance on imported seeds makes alfalfa cultivation expensive. In addition, farmer education will be key to ensuring that they know how to properly cultivate and harvest alfalfa for maximum productivity.

The Nigerian government’s support is also crucial. The National Feed and Fodder Policy should be fully implemented to provide farmers with the tools, financing, and incentives they need to transition to alfalfa farming. Public-private partnerships will be necessary to facilitate the widespread adoption of alfalfa and ensure that the crop becomes a key component of Nigeria’s agricultural strategy.

The Alternative Bank has begun discussions with parties to explore the potential of scaling the initiative to other states and regions, particularly those facing the most severe herder-farmer conflicts. By extending the pilot project’s success, the Bank aims to encourage state governments and private sector partners to invest in alfalfa cultivation as a viable solution for livestock feed and rural economic development. This expansion could also serve as a foundation for developing modern ranching systems, ensuring a steady supply of nutritious fodder while reducing the environmental and social costs associated with open grazing.

The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This followed his screening by lawmakers which lasted for two hours in the red chambers of the National Assembly, Abuja.

During the screening, Amupitan answered critical questions from senators regarding elections, administration, policy and Electoral Act among others.

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Tuesday requested the Senate to confirm Amupitan as new INEC chairman following the expiration of tenure of Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced his intention to reintroduce teaching of Edo languages in schools.

Okpebholo disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Esan Okpa Initiative, on Thursday.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to preserving the state’s rich cultural heritage and promoting indigenous knowledge.

‘We will reintroduce vernacular into our school system. Let every tribe begin to learn and speak their language so that no language goes into extinction,’ he said

According to him, as part of effort to improve conducive environment for learning, his administration had directed the Ministry of Education to intensify school rehabilitation efforts.

‘I have told my Commissioner for Education, we have to provide seats and desks for schools. We will continue massive renovation and fencing, provide boreholes and toilets, and we will start installing solar lights in schools.’

‘We are already working on a school access programme where our children can have hands-on experience in computer studies-so they can see and touch technology in real time.’

Earlier, the President, Esan Okpa Initiative, Hon Mathew Egbadon, applauded the governor’s achievements, underscoring the urgent need to protect and advance Esan language and culture.

‘You now need to reintroduce the teaching of Esan language in schools. Esan language is far disappearing because many people of Esan extraction are not speaking it, and the language is not taught in schools. It should be reintroduced into the school curriculum’ he said.

The Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading a bill seeking the establishment of Sickle Cell Disorder, Research, and Therapy Centres in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Sunday Marshal Katung (Kaduna South), aims to strengthen the national response to sickle cell anaemia – an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells, instead of maintaining a flexible disc shape, become stiff and crescent-shaped.

This deformity impedes blood flow in small vessels, leading to severe pain, organ damage, and other complications.

In his lead debate on the general principles of the bill, Senator Katung said the proposed legislation seeks to expand access to specialised care for sickle cell patients, improve data collection and research, and provide educational and psychosocial support for affected individuals, families, and communities.

He explained that the bill would also provide a legal framework for the proper management and administration of the centres, ensuring they operate effectively and sustainably.

Contributing to the debate, Senators Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North) and Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) emphasised the importance of genotype testing before marriage and called for increased public education to curb the prevalence of the disease.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for further legislative action, with a directive to report back within four weeks.

‘As the bill progresses, we must also integrate preventive strategies to reduce new cases. It is crucial that we find every possible way to support those already suffering from the disease while promoting awareness and prevention nationwide,’ Barau said.

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 18:43:04 WAT

The national leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural association, has suspended its state chairmen in Taraba, Bauchi, and Adamawa states.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mallam Mohammed-Suleiman, National Public Relations Officer of the association, and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Suleiman said the decision was taken by the association’s National President, Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo, following investigations into several complaints received from Fulani pastoralists in the affected states.

‘After thorough scrutiny and consideration of numerous complaints from Fulani pastoralists, the National President has suspended the following state chairmen: Bammi Bello-Jane of Taraba, Muhammed Hussaini -Buzaye of Bauchi, and Usman Abubakar-Yirlabe of Adamawa, with immediate effect,’ he said.

He said that the suspension followed allegations of poor performance, lack of representation, and neglect of members’ welfare by the affected chairmen.

Suleiman said the decision was aimed at restoring members’ trust and confidence in the association’s leadership.

He also said the National President had directed all relevant security agencies and stakeholders to desist from engaging with the suspended chairmen, as they were no longer authorised to represent the association.

‘We urge all members and stakeholders to recognise and respect this decision.

‘Any attempt by the suspended chairmen to parade themselves as leaders or members of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore will attract prosecution in accordance with the law.

‘The association will not tolerate any act capable of bringing it into disrepute or undermining its integrity,’ he said.

Suleiman added that the National President reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare of all members and assured that the association would continue to promote the interests of Fulani pastoralists across the country. (NAN)

Recent reports of self-styled transport enforcers, popularly called agberos or touts, have raised concerns within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), especially in the city of Abuja. These touts, armed with audacity, have taken over strategic parts of the city, harassing motorists, damaging vehicles, and operating with a brazenness that suggests they are backed by some powerful individuals or authority.

The activities of agberos were popular in Lagos State. In fact, the name agbero is a Yoruba term that loosely translates to ‘area boy,’ which describes street boys who unofficially man tolls to intimidate and extort residents in the name of collecting ‘levies.’ However, what was once thought to be a Lagos problem has unfortunately sneaked its way into Nigeria’s capital city and is taking a dangerous dimension.

The touts are known to frequent specific spots, and the Mabushi-Bannex area has been identified as one of their notorious spots due to frequent pick-ups or drop-offs of passengers by both private and commercial drivers. Unfortunately, their uncivilised manner of handling issues led to an accident that claimed the life of a couple early September. The tragedy occurred when the touts tried to force their way into the moving vehicle in an attempt to take control of the steering. While trying to shake them off, the couple reportedly lost control of the vehicle and rammed into another vehicle that claimed their lives and that of two of the touts.

While the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) was initially fingered as the possible employer of these touts, AMAC has denied any formal affiliation, saying they do not constitute members of their task force. However, a Daily Trust reporter who interviewed a surviving tout involved in the accident revealed that they work for the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) as ticketing agents. If this is true, then the question becomes more urgent: Who authorised RTEAN to operate on public roads, and with brazen authority to extort residents under the guise of collecting levies that are reportedly shared amongst them?

Nigeria is not short of agencies empowered by law to enforce traffic and tax regulations. The Nigerian Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, popularly known as Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), are all constitutionally mandated to carry out these functions. Each has its own jurisdiction, training protocols, and accountability structures.

But to allow an informal, untrained, and unregulated group to enforce similar laws is to invite chaos. These agberos lack the legal authority, procedural training, and even ethical grounding to interact with citizens in any official capacity. Their continued presence on Abuja’s roads is not just unlawful but dangerous. More disturbing is the fact that since a report linked these touts to RTEAN, the association, which is the umbrella body of all owners of commercial vehicles operating in Nigeria, has neither denied the affiliation nor made its position regarding the tragic incident.

As stated in their mandate, RTEAN has a responsibility to organise or participate in periodic road safety campaigns aimed at educating those actively involved in road transport. It also has absolute control and authority, subject to the law or bye law of the land, over all motor park activities throughout Nigeria to facilitate orderliness and ensure the complete welfare of the passengers and the safety of their luggage. Again, its mandate is clear that the ‘Association shall not encourage, but rather work for the total elimination of touting at all motor parks in Nigeria.’

But by employing agberos, RTEAN has not only failed in its mandate to protect passengers and other road users but is complicit in endangering the lives of Nigerians. There is no reason whatsoever why touts should have the power to stop any vehicle, much less a private vehicle, in a city like Abuja. If these individuals are being used as a revenue-generation tool, then the authorities must come clean. Let them present the enabling laws that allow for the outsourcing of the enforcement of these levies and devise a more civilised way of actualising their mandate. But touts should never be engaged in any form of law enforcement activity, nor should they be seen to be doing this in the seat of power.

With the 2027 general elections looming, their presence takes on an even more dangerous dimension, as political actors could easily use them in the breakdown of law and order. Moreover, for a city like Abuja, already grappling with the menace of ‘one chance’ criminal gangs, the addition of these touts as enforcers only compounds the insecurity.

Therefore, we at Daily Trust demand a thorough investigation into the death of the couple around Mabushi and insist those responsible must be made to face the full wrath of the law. If RTEAN or any other body is found to have employed these touts, then they must be held liable. The families of the victims deserve justice, and the residents of Abuja deserve protection. While the FCT Police Command claims it is already investigating the incident, that claim must be backed by action, and the report of the investigation must be made public.

We also call on the FCT minister, the FCT Police Command, and all relevant agencies to act decisively, dismantle the operations of all touts and flush them out of the city. The culture of impunity that allows agberos to thrive must be rejected by all.

As Nigerians increasingly participate in the digital economy landscape, tech experts and other stakeholders have called for a robust protection framework to ensure accountability and protection of citizens’ digital rights.

They made the call at the launch of The Legal Basis Project on Monday, October 13, 2025, in Abuja, stressing that there is a need to safeguard the fundamental rights of data subjects, regulate the processing of personal data, and promote data processing practices that prioritise security and privacy.

The Legal Basis Project, an innovative data protection initiative, is developed and executed by Tech Hive Advisory, with the support of Meta.

The launch brought together policymakers, legal experts, tech players in the private sector, the media and sectoral regulators, including representatives of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), to chart a common front for clarity on the legal basis for data processing to foster the ethos of compliance and accountability.

Other stakeholders present at the launch include representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Medical Laboratory and Science Council of Nigeria, and members of relevant civil society groups, law firms, media, academia, and think tanks.

The stakeholder explored lawful basis dynamics that allow businesses to collect and use data, focusing on thematic areas such as consent, contract performance, compliance with legal obligations, protection of concerned interests, and the processing of data for public interest and other legitimate interests.

In his keynote address, Mr Solomon Musa Odole, Project Coordinator, Nigeria Identification for Development (IDAD) Project, lauded Tech Hive Advisory for the visionary initiative.

He said the project seeks to enhance understanding of the legal basis for data processing in the simplest way possible, such as reading simple articles, visualising complex issues, and playing the games. The people can have access to all of these via legalbasis.ng.

According to him, ‘this project represents not just another addition to Nigeria’s growing data protection ecosystem, but a strategic intervention that goes to the very heart of lawful data processing and accountability.

He noted that, ‘In today’s digital economy, data is often described as the new oil, but unlike oil, data’s value is not extracted from the ground; it is derived from trust; Trust that our information will be used lawfully, fairly, and for legitimate purposes. This trust depends on one critical element, the legal basis for processing personal data.

‘Whether we process data for public service delivery, for commercial transactions or for research and innovation, our legitimacy rests on understanding and applying the correct legal basis.

‘Yet, as we all know, this is easier said than done. Across sectors, we see confusion about which legal basis applies in a given context, consent where public interest should apply, legitimate interest invoked without proper balancing or contractual necessity stretched beyond its intent.’

Odole said the Legal Basis Project was conceived in response to the growing need for a clear understanding of the concept of the legal grounds for processing personal data under the Nigeria data protection law, a home grown Nigeria Data Protection Act.

He noted that ‘over the past few months, the team behind it have collaborated with experts from government, industry, youths, academia, civil society, law firms, the media, and everyday data subjects to develop practical tools and resources that will help clarify the legal bases for data processing and foster a culture of compliance and accountability.’

Ridwan Oloyede, Emerging Technologies and Policy Lead and Co-founder, Tech Hive Advisory Africa, said Nigerians need not be left behind as societies become rapidly digital, adding that there is a need for clear legal direction for data protection.

According to him, the Legal Basis Project seeks to address existing knowledge gaps, align understanding of the Nigerian data protection laws with international best practices and as well help everyone in the ecosystem understand how the law applies.

‘The idea of the project is basically to bring information closer to people, make it more meaningful, make it more actionable, but also ensure people are empowered through knowledge, and then they can make better informed decisions.

‘Everybody in the ecosystem, from the regulators themselves to the policymakers, to the everyday data subjects, people in the markets, in stores, people who sell, people who do grocery, folks in academia, youth, and everybody generally becomes a common stakeholder in this ecosystem.

‘The key thing, really, when you talk about legal basis generally just to get a sense of what the legal reason is? What is the legal explanation? What is the legal justification for using information for using people’s information in decision making?’ he said.

Oloyede emphasised that ‘what we’ve done with this project is to create a couple of toolkits, resources that can help organisations, people themselves, the everyday data subjects, the everyday Nigerian, to be more aware, to have a deeper understanding of what it is, but also, most importantly, to make better decisions now that they are fully empowered.’

He noted that although regulators have crucial roles to play, others in the ecosystem also have a role to play, ‘which is democratising access to this information, simplifying this information, making it more relatable, making it the reality that people actually deal with every day.’

According to him, through simple everyday realities, games, articles, visualisations, decision trees, and tools that help people write things like privacy notices, the project, with support from Meta, its principal partner, has made great progress in the data ecosystem.

Also, Toulu Akerele, Global Data Project Officer and ISMS Manager, Paystack Payment Limited, stresses the need for education on a lawful basis.

She said that, besides regulations, efforts should be channelled towards practical mass education so that everyone in the ecosystem instinctively understands that data use must have a legitimate and legal standing.

‘I think awareness is something that we’ve seen missing when it comes to legal basis, even data protection in general; although the NDPC is doing a lot to raise awareness across the country, more still needs to be done.

‘We had a lot of great conversations today, including different stakeholder engagements, and we looked at why consent seems to be incorrectly relied upon, especially with privacy policies.

‘I think consent, when used properly, is a great tool. Companies should seek consent before sending direct marketing or targeted marketing emails, texts, phone calls, or anything like that.

‘If you can not use a service without consenting, that means consent is not the appropriate legal basis because it’s forced consent, it’s coerced consent, it’s not freely given.

In his remark, Kamfon Josephneke, Senior Legislative Aide to the President of the Senate, stressed the need for the implementation of legislation, policies, and regulations on data privacy and protection.

He therefore called for a multisectoral approach in ensuring that everyone in the ecosystem is well informed about the lawful usage of data.