National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has cautioned against censoring the operations of civil society organisations in Nigeria.

The chairperson of the governing Board of NHRC, Dr Salamatu Suileman, gave the warning at a civil society forum on human rights in Nigeria held in Abuja, yesterday.

According to her, an attempt at shrinking the civil society space would amount to shutting the voices of many, which negates the principle of democracy.

Suilieman emphasised the need for divergent opinions in a democracy to enrich the practice in line with international best practices.

“We have witnessed a global trend of shrinking civic spaces. Laws and policies restricting NGO activities, censorship and silencing dissenting voices have become alarmingly prevalent,

“Nigeria is a vibrant and diverse nation; we should always remind ourselves of our unique challenges and opportunities. With its rich history and complex social landscape, our country has seen both the flourishing and the constraining of civic spaces.”

“We must work together to create an environment where civic engagement is tolerated and actively encouraged and celebrated,” she said.

Executive Director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare and Action (PRAWA), Dr Uju Agomoh, also argued that any attempt to shrink the civil society space may have negative consequences on democracy.