217 Computing, Information Systems, Development Informatics & Allied Research Journal Vol. 7 No. 4, December, 2016 - www.cisdijournal.net An Exploratory Study of Internet Control and Surveillance Babajide, A.O. Department of Sociology Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria adekunlebabajide50@yahoo.com Odumesi, J.O. E-Learning Department Civil Defence Academy FCT, Nigeria olayemijohn@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Series of events in recent years have forcefully brought global public attention to the situation around internet freedom. In Nigeria, there has been a trend of increasing budgetary allocation for surveillance equipment including internet communications monitoring. In order to ensure this study achieves its aims and objectives, qualitative methodology was used to collect data through in-depth interview. The non-probabilistic sampling technique that was used for this study is purposive sampling and the unit of analysis is organisation. Five information-rich subset of stakeholders in internet censorship and surveillance in Nigeria were interviewed namely; Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) and Cybersecurity Expert Association of Nigeria (CSEAN). The study established that, there is no specific law defining internet control and surveillance in Nigeria, thus, what constitutes internet control and surveillance is not defined in any written law in Nigeria. However, there are existing legislations that violates internet users’ privacy in Nigeria. The study recommended that, Nigerian government should adhere to the United Nations Human Rights Commission resolution that effectively makes internet access a basic human right. Keywords - internet control; censorship; surveillance; freedom; Nigeria CISDI Journal Reference Format Babajide, A.O. & Odumesi, J.O. (2016): An Exploratory Study of Internet Control and Surveillance. Computing, Information Systems, Development Informatics & Allied Research Journal. Vol 7 No 4. Pp 217-224. Available online at www.cisdijournal.net 1. INTRODUCTION The Internet has been considered as a medium for promoting global freedom of expression (Stevenson 2007). The Internet was created as an open communications system which would enable academics to collaborate and interchange ideas and information without being tied to hierarchical restriction (Leiner et al., 2003). However, these ideas of a free and ungoverned Internet have proven to be delusive as many national governments have found ways to control, censor, and govern the Internet. Internet activities are under the control of governments around the world as laws, regulations, blockades and censorship under various guises, in the name of protecting financial transactions and most importantly national security. By virtue of its decentralized design many people have regarded the Internet to be immune from state control (Deibert and Villeneuve 2004). However, the Internet has never been excluded from censorship and surveillance by administrative authorities. Internet accessibility in Nigeria has grown exponentially with the advent of mobile phone data and fixed wireless access services. However, there has not been any talk about the state of internet freedom in Nigeria. In 2013, the Nigerian government awarded $40million contrast to an Israeli company to monitor computer and internet communication by Nigerians. Emmanuel (2013) maintained that the Nigerian government secretly and in open violation of lawful contracting procedures, has awarded an Israeli firm, Elbit Systems, a $40million contract to help it spy on citizens’ computer networks and Internet communications under the shape of intelligence gathering and national security. 1.1. Research Objectives The main objective is to provide information and analysis for the Nigerian government by examining how freely her citizens can express their social, economic and political opinions on the internet by finding the right balance between internet privacy and national security of her citizens.