As Nigeria prepares for nationwide protests on April 7, 2025, Amnesty International has called on authorities to safeguard freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The planned demonstrations are in response to what activists describe as an escalating crackdown on dissent, particularly through the enforcement of the Cybercrimes Act.
In a statement, Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, urged the Nigerian government to ensure that security agencies respect and facilitate the right to peaceful protest, as guaranteed by both Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights treaties.
He said, “The Nigerian authorities must ensure that security agencies respect and facilitate the right to peaceful protest, as guaranteed by both the country’s own constitution and human rights treaties including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.
“Government officials must also refrain from issuing rhetoric aimed at demonising protesters and stifling peaceful dissent.”
Sanusi warned against attempts to suppress protests, emphasising that any effort to restrict peaceful assembly is illegal and signals an intolerance for dissent.
“Authorities must not use the proposed nationwide protests as a ploy to crack down on human rights including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” Sanusi said.
“People must be allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest. Any act capable of undermining freedom of assembly is illegal and portrays unacceptable intolerance of peaceful dissent.”
The rights group called for the government to demonstrate its commitment to upholding fundamental freedoms by ensuring that protesters can gather without fear of intimidation or violence.
Amnesty International reaffirmed that peaceful demonstrations are an essential component of democratic governance, urging officials to approach the situation in line with national and international human rights obligations.
The planned protests come amid mounting concerns over the Nigerian government’s approach to dissent, with critics arguing that legislation such as the Cybercrimes Act is being used to target activists, journalists, and opposition voices.
“Authorities must show a commitment to upholding the country’s constitutional and international human rights obligations by allowing people to freely exercise their human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association,” he said.
