Protesters have converged on the National Assembly Complex in Abuja to
vent against the bills seeking to regulate social media and curb “hate
speech” in the country.
The protesters, comprising individuals and civil society
organisations, displayed placards asking the legislature to discard
the bills.
The protection from internet falsehoods and manipulation bill and the
national commission for the prohibition of hate speeches bill were
recently introduced in the senate.
Some Nigerians say it is a plot to clamp down on free speech and
public criticism.
Despite intense opposition to the bills, only one senator — Chimaroke
Nnamani from Enugu State — spoke against that which seeks to regulate
social media before it was passed for second reading.
The protesters, who were stopped at the entrance of the complex by
security agents, said the two proposed legislations infringe on the
right of Nigerians to free speech.
The placards they displayed read: “It is slavery not to speak one’s
thought”, “social media bill another draconian decree”, and “do not
gag me.”
