Call for Stronger Digital Platform Accountability in Nigeria

A multistakeholder dialogue on online safety and platform accountability was held in Abuja on Wednesday, convened by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) at Bon Hotel Octagon. Participants, including newsroom leaders, investigative journalists, regulators, and civil society actors, discussed the need for stronger scrutiny of technology platforms operating in Nigeria.

Dapo Olorunyomi, CEO of CJID, highlighted the significant power that private technology companies hold over communication, commerce, and access to information, warning of an accountability gap. He stated that these platforms make consequential decisions through opaque algorithms, which citizens and regulators cannot easily scrutinize.

Akintunde Babatunde, Executive Director of CJID, noted that Nigerians are increasingly subject to decisions made by unaccountable digital platforms. The dialogue also featured presentations from four investigative journalists under CJID’s Platform Accountability Fellowship, showcasing how digital platforms can amplify real-world harm.