Rights group cautions that questioning Ndibe airport could further erode civic space

By Steve Oko, Umuahia

The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) has expressed alarm over what it calls a shrinking civic space in Nigeria, following the reported questioning of writer Okey Ndibe at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The organization said the incident has heightened worries about freedom of expression and the treatment of government critics.

In a statement titled “When Criticism Becomes a Crime: The Dangerous Shrinking of Civic Space in Nigeria,” CEHRAWS Executive Director Okoye Chuka Peter cautioned against any perception that dissent is being treated as a security threat.

He noted that although authorities described the encounter as routine, repeated scrutiny of journalists, activists, writers and opposition voices could erode public trust in democratic institutions.

Okoye referenced Sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression and association, as well as international instruments such as the ICCPR and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

“Criticism is not sabotage. Dissent is not treason. Opposition is not criminality,” he said.

He emphasized that democracy thrives when citizens can express opinions and hold leaders accountable without fear of intimidation.

Okoye urged government institutions to reassure Nigerians that individuals would not be targeted for peacefully criticizing public policies or officials.

“The true measure of a democracy is not how it treats its supporters, but how it treats its critics,” he added.

The group called on authorities to uphold constitutional rights and protect civic space, insisting that Nigeria’s democratic future depends on safeguarding free speech and public participation.

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