Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has commended the House of Representatives, for suspending the collection of customers social media handles by commercial banks.
This was contained in a statement signed by CITAD’s Digital Rights Officer, Malam Ali Sabo and made available to Radio Nigeria in Kano.
He pointed out that, last month the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), gave a directive to all commercial banks in the country, to collect and store the social media handles of their customers for easy identification.
The digital rights officer pointed out that, the directive was criticized by individuals, organizations, and human and digital rights activists, including CITAD, due to its implication on data subjects privacy, and breaching of privacy of individuals.
Ali Sabo explained that, CITAD as an organization committed to protecting the digital rights of the citizens, found the directive as an abuse of the rights of the citizens online, and in contravention of the objectives of the data protection act ,which was just accented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He noted that, earlier the Centre released a statement, calling on all Nigerians, National Assembly, and the President, to not only condemn the act, but also to demand its withdrawal.
The digital rights officer, described the resolution by the National Assembly, as timely and welcome development by all Nigerians.
He urged the public, civil society organizations, and the media to continue raising their voice against what he described as a draconian directive.
“The National Assembly to sustain this and ensure the directive is being revised and the President to add his voice to the voice of” Nigerians.
Ali Sabo, called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to expedite action, on the suspension as directed by the National Assembly.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
