Nigeria ranked lower on digital rights in The Score Index, weighed down by gaps in digital infrastructure, cybercrime laws and limited press freedom. 

The Score Index, also known as the Londa Digital Rights Index, developed by Paradigm Initiative, evaluates African countries’ compliance with key human rights elements enshrined in the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.

The assessment evaluates how citizens experience their rights to connect, speak, and stay protected online. It measures indicators such as access to information, freedom of expression, privacy protections, and digital inclusion.

 Key areas that were highlighted for improvement include data privacy and online freedom. 

The 2025 report, released on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, notes that Nigeria has deployed only about 38,000 kilometres of the 120,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable needed to achieve universal broadband access for its population of over 200 million. 

The index ranked Nigeria 10th in Africa, behind South Africa, Ghana, Namibia, Senegal, Egypt, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Malawi, based on compliance levels. 

Nigeria received a total score of 36 out of 60, placing it at a ‘moderately compliant’ level.

The report by Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African nonprofit organisation, reveals a data-driven assessment of internet freedoms, policy environments, and emerging digital rights risks across the African continent. 

It provides an annual benchmark of progress and setbacks in digital rights protection, drawing on extensive country-level research and stakeholder engagement.

While South Africa topped the list for the second consecutive time, Botswana and Egypt were the most improved countries in the ranking over the past year, each improving by over nine places.

The development was in stark contrast to Nigeria and Cameroon, which both dropped by five and ten places, respectively. 

Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sudan also dropped in rank, placing them among the bottom five on the list. 

The 2026 Londa Report for 2025 was launched at a three-day forum in Côte d’Ivoire on April 22. 

The forum was hosted in collaboration with the Coalition Ivoirienne des Défenseurs des Droits Humains (CIDDH) and sponsored by the Ford Foundation, Google, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Luminate, Human Rights Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Mott Foundation, TikTok, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, and Wikimedia Foundation.

The 2027 edition of the forum will take place in Nigeria from April 13 to 15, 2027.