Nigeria, June 12 -- In a joint message commemorating Nigeria's 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance, ambassadors of five Western countries have urged the Nigerian government to urgently reform its Cybercrimes Act to protect citizens' right to free speech and boost investor confidence in the country's digital economy.

The envoys - representing the United States, Britain, Finland, Norway and Canada - issued the call in an op-ed shared with PREMIUM TIMES in commemoration of Nigeria's 2025 Democracy Day.

The ambassadors raised concerns that the 2015 Cybercrimes Act, particularly following its 2024 amendments, is being increasingly misused to silence journalists, activists and ordinary citizens expressing dissent or reporting alle...