COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker
Keep Civic Space Healthy
This tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affect civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. For information about our methodology, click here.
For more information and analysis by region, click here.
The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. This is an ongoing effort, and we welcome you to email us at adeblock@icnl.org and simona@ecnl.org to share additional resources.
Ban on Gatherings
The government of Niger State issued an order banning gatherings of more than 50 people, indefinitely, to combat the spread of COVID-19. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 18 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly
Type: law
Lockdown on Bauchi State
Nigerian authorities announce a 14-day lockdown on Bauchi state to prevent further spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Citizens are ordered to stay at home, with permission to leave to buy food and seek medical care between 10am and 4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays only.
Introduced 1 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Movement
Type: order
Lockdown on Major Cities and States
The presidential order institutes a 14-day lockdown on individuals' movement in Abuja, Lagos, Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory. The lockdown does not apply to hospital and medical institutions and certain commercial establishments including food, petroleum, electricity, and private security companies. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 30 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Movement
Type: order
Prohibition on Mass Gatherings
The Presidential Task Force on countering the coronavirus threat reiterates a ban on gatherings of 50 or more people. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 23 Mar 2020
Issue(s): Assembly
Type: order
Arrest of Peaceful Protestors
Security forces arrested 62 anti-government protesters in two locations on August 5, for breaching social distancing rules. Police also used teargas to disperse the demonstrations.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 5 Aug 2020
Issue(s): Assembly
Type: practice
Police Brutality in Enforcing Lockdown
On April 15, the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission reported that the Nigerian Correctional Service, comprising police and army officers, had killed at least 18 civilians during lockdown enforcement. The Commission also reported that it had received 105 petitions from the families of those killed. By the time the report was issued, the number of deaths caused by security forces exceeded the number of deaths caused by coronavirus. The NHRC subsequently established a panel to investigate the brutality.
(See primary source or citation here)Introduced 15 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Movement, Militarization
Type: practice
Data Use to Combat COVID-19
The Nigeria Governors' Forum has formed a partnership with MTN Nigeria, a telecommunication and internet service provider, to use subscriber data to combat COVID-19. The partnership has raised concerns over information sharing, privacy, and the protection of human rights. The data that will be used to develop services relating to COVID-19 will be personal information that was not originally shared or intended for this purpose. (See primary source or citation here)
Introduced 5 Apr 2020
Issue(s): Surveillance, Privacy
Type: practice