Nigeria senate approves communications spying bill

The Nigerian Senate  approved a bill enabling security agencies to intercept communications deemed harmful to national security, despite opposition from civil and human rights groups, ITWeb reproted. The bill passed the second reading at the Senate and has been referred to the committees on Communications, Judiciary and National Security for further input. Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President, endorsed the bill despite the controversy around it.
Once passed into law, the bill will allow security agencies to monitor communications such as telephone calls, e-mail messages, text messages and multimedia applications. Lawmakers say it could enhance national security, prevent crime and facilitate criminal investigations. In addition, the bill seeks to prohibit the manufacture, assembly, processing, sales, purchase and advertisement of certain equipment illegally used as interception devices.
Senators said the bill is designed to protect users' interest through prohibition of interception, and provide circumstances under which interception may be permitted for public interest. However, another senator, Atai Aidoki Ali, opposed the proposed legislation, saying it could give rise to the government going on a witch-hunt of the opposition without court orders. He described the bill as ambiguous, positing that it should be streamlined.