The Federal Government has the legal power to monitor phone conversations in Nigeria for reasons related to national security.
This is according to Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu.
Ajayi made the statement in response to discussions on social media following remarks by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who admitted that the phone of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was tapped without authorization.
El-Rufai had appeared on a television programme claiming the tap was carried out to monitor Ribadu’s calls, acknowledging that it was illegal.
In his response online, Ajayi clarified that while citizens cannot engage in such actions, the government is permitted to carry out monitoring to protect national security and maintain order.
He compared it to firearms, noting that citizens need a license to carry guns, while the government can hold weapons for protection and law enforcement.
He said: “The government can legitimately listen to your conversation for national security reasons. Only govt is allowed to do what is illegal for citizens to do to protect and preserve the collective. You can’t carry gun but govt can carry gun and the firearm arm that is allowed for citizens under the law must be licensed by govt.”
El-Rufai also said that he faced a security confrontation upon arriving in Abuja, where officials briefly detained him and took his passport amid protests from supporters.
He alleged that Kaduna Governor Uba Sani and the ICPC chairman were involved in a plan against him.
Since leaving the ruling All Progressives Congress after his ministerial nomination was rejected by the Senate, El-Rufai has frequently criticised the Tinubu administration, raising concerns over security operations and government surveillance.
