Nigeria recorded 245 Civic Space violations in 2025 – WSCIJ Report

Salau Ruqayat

The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has raised concerns over increasing restrictions on civic freedoms in Nigeria, revealing that the country recorded 245 verified civic space violations in 2025.

The findings were contained in the Centre’s 2025 Journalism and Civic Space Status Report, titled “Silenced Voices, Shrinking Space: Civic Freedoms Under Pressure,” which was unveiled during the 18th Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture Series in Lagos.

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The report, which assessed Nigeria’s civic environment between January and December 2025, highlighted growing concerns around freedom of expression, access to information, peaceful assembly, and association.

According to WSCIJ, the documented violations were referenced across 570 media reports published by 54 media organisations, showing a pattern of systematic restrictions affecting journalists, civil society actors, and ordinary citizens.

The report revealed that law enforcement agencies were responsible for 219 of the 245 recorded violations, representing 89.4 per cent of all documented incidents.

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The Nigeria Police Force accounted for the largest share of state-linked violations, being implicated in 118 incidents, representing 54 per cent of all violations linked to government institutions.

WSCIJ said the figures highlight the urgent need for improved accountability and rights-based policing across the country.

Ordinary Nigerians Increasingly Targeted

While journalists and media professionals remain vulnerable, the report noted a worrying shift, with ordinary citizens becoming the largest group affected.

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The report stated that citizens accounted for 133 incidents, representing 54.3 per cent of all documented cases in 2025.

According to WSCIJ, repression is increasingly extending beyond newsrooms to include Nigerians participating in peaceful protests, public criticism, and democratic activities.

The organisation warned that the trend threatens citizens’ ability to freely engage in democratic processes.

Administrative Restrictions Dominate Violations

The report also revealed that most civic space restrictions did not involve physical attacks but rather administrative and legal measures.

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While physical violence and intimidation accounted for 40.8 per cent (100 cases), non-violent restrictions made up the majority with 59.2 per cent (145 cases).

These included: Arbitrary arrests, detentions, legal summons, regulatory sanctions and use of restrictive laws against expression.

WSCIJ noted that such measures often operate without public scrutiny but create a chilling effect on free speech and civic participation.

Lagos and Abuja Record Highest Cases

The report identified Abuja and Lagos as the areas with the highest concentration of journalism and civic space violations.

WSCIJ attributed this to the high level of political activities, economic engagements, and media operations in both locations.

However, the organisation cautioned that lower figures from other regions may not necessarily indicate improved civic conditions, suggesting possible underreporting and the normalisation of restrictions.

WSCIJ Calls for Urgent Reforms

Following the findings, the Centre called on government institutions, civil society organisations, and international partners to take immediate steps to protect civic freedoms.

WSCIJ urged, Regulatory, security and law enforcement agencies to undertake legal reforms, strengthen oversight mechanisms, and ensure responses to protests and dissent comply with human rights standards.

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The Legislature to review and amend laws that could be used to criminalise legitimate expression online and offline.

Media organisations and civil society groups to strengthen civic space reporting, improve safety networks, and increase public awareness.

International partners to support local monitoring systems and protection mechanisms for vulnerable groups.

Protecting Nigeria’s Democracy

WSCIJ emphasised that civic space remains essential to democratic development, warning that restrictions on citizens’ ability to speak, organise, and hold leaders accountable could weaken democratic institutions.

The report is part of the Centre’s Civic Space Project, which promotes social justice, human rights, and good governance through investigative journalism, capacity building, and civic engagement.

The latest publication builds on previous WSCIJ reports, including Hushed Voices and the Media’s Defence of Civic Space (2012-2022), Hushed Voices in an Election Year (2023), and Shrinking Freedoms (2024).

Through continuous monitoring and verification of civic space incidents, WSCIJ said it aims to encourage dialogue, promote institutional reforms, and strengthen efforts to protect democratic freedoms in Nigeria.