The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), 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.
This was contained in a letter dated 21 February 2026 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
According to SERAP, the regulations are “unconstitutional, unlawful, and entirely inconsistent with Nigeria’s international obligations”. The organisation emphasized the urgent need for a transparent legislative process to ensure any lawful interception framework complies with constitutional safeguards, judicial oversight, and international human rights standards.
The call comes in the wake of allegations by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribaɗu’s phone conversation was intercepted.
SERAP described the regulations as establishing “a sweeping mass surveillance regime that violates Nigerians’ constitutionally and internationally-guaranteed human rights, including to privacy and freedom of expression”.
The organisation warned that the rules 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”.
The letter also highlighted concerns over the upcoming 2027 general elections, stating, “Broad and weakly safeguarded interception powers create a real risk of abuse during politically sensitive periods.” It added that “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”.
The organisation called for narrow, clearly defined interception powers, backed by independent judicial authorization and effective remedies, warning that the current regulations “fail all three tests” of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
“While SERAP acknowledges the government’s responsibility to address national security and organised crime, such objectives must be pursued within constitutional and international human rights limits. The Regulations are neither necessary in a democratic society nor proportionate”, it further stated.
The organisation further demanded a response within seven days, warning that failure to act would compel it to pursue “all appropriate legal actions to ensure the government complies with our request in the public interest.
