Stop ‘Unlawful’ Mass Phone-Tapping Rules, SERAP Urges Tinubu

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately halt what it described as unlawful and unconstitutional mass phone-tapping provisions contained in Nigeria’s Lawful Interception of Communications Regulations, 2019.

In a statement released on Sunday, SERAP urged the President to direct the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to withdraw the regulations, arguing that they violate citizens’ rights to privacy and fail to meet constitutional and international human-rights standards.

According to the organisation, any surveillance framework must be guided by transparency, judicial authorisation and strict oversight mechanisms. SERAP insisted that Nigeria’s interception policies should comply with global best practices and international treaties protecting civil liberties.

The appeal was contained in a letter dated February 21, 2026, signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. In the correspondence, the group urged the Federal Government to begin an inclusive legislative review process that would allow stakeholders, civil society and lawmakers to redesign interception laws in line with democratic norms.

SERAP also stressed that unchecked surveillance could erode public trust in government institutions and expose citizens to potential abuse of power.

The latest call followed recent political tensions after former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, alleged that his phone conversations had been intercepted by security authorities. The allegation has sparked nationwide debate over digital rights, national security policies and the balance between surveillance and individual freedoms.

While the Federal Government has yet to formally respond to SERAP’s demands, analysts say the issue may fuel broader discussions about data protection laws, online privacy and Nigeria’s evolving digital-governance framework ahead of the next election cycle.