CITAD Launches dComms, DANCIT to Promote Digital Privacy, Freedom in Nigeria

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has launched two digital platforms, dComms and DANCIT, saying they are intended to promote digital privacy, freedom and community-centred communication in Nigeria.

dComms is a privacy-focused, decentralised social media and communication initiative connected to the Fediverse, while DANCIT – short for Dandalin CITAD – is a community-centred mobile messaging application designed to promote communication, collaboration and civic engagement.

Speaking at a press conference in Bauchi on Thursday, CITAD Executive Director Engr. Dr. Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, who was represented by Buhari Abba, said the platforms were introduced in response to growing concerns over data privacy, surveillance, algorithmic manipulation, online harassment and the increasing control of digital spaces by a few powerful technology companies.

Ya’u said many mainstream digital platforms operate business models that depend on collecting, processing and monetising users’ personal information, often without users having sufficient knowledge of how their data is stored, shared or used.

He said the challenges underscored the need for alternative digital platforms that prioritise privacy, transparency, community participation and digital freedom.

“People should have access to communication tools that respect their rights, protect their information and give them greater control over their digital experiences,” he added.

Ya’u said CITAD, with support from the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), is promoting dComms as an alternative to conventional social media platforms through a decentralised model that distributes control among independently operated services and communities.

He said the initiative was intended to give individuals, communities and institutions greater flexibility in choosing the services they use and the online communities they join.

The CITAD executive director maintained that access to digital communication should not require users to surrender control over their personal information or accept unfair terms imposed by dominant technology companies.

He said CITAD was also introducing DANCIT, a mobile messaging application hosted on its digital infrastructure and designed to provide an alternative communication space for communities, young people, civil society organisations, development partners and digital rights advocates.

Ya’u said the application draws inspiration from the traditional Hausa concept of a dandali, a communal gathering place where people meet, exchange ideas, build relationships and discuss issues affecting their lives.

“By adapting this concept to the digital environment, CITAD seeks to preserve the spirit of community engagement while providing a modern channel for communication and collaboration,” he said.

“DANCIT is intended to support civic engagement, strengthen collaboration and facilitate the sharing of ideas among people and organisations working towards social development.”

Ya’u said the two initiatives also reflected CITAD’s commitment to digital sovereignty, which he described as building the capacity of Nigerian institutions and communities to make informed decisions about digital infrastructure, data governance and technological development.

He said digital sovereignty did not mean isolating Nigeria from the global internet, but ensuring that citizens and institutions have meaningful choices, participate in shaping digital systems and develop solutions that address local needs while remaining connected to the wider world.

CITAD called on civil society organisations, educational institutions, youth groups, journalists, technology professionals, policymakers and development partners to explore decentralised platforms and support initiatives that place people’s rights at the centre of technological development.

The organisation encouraged Nigerians to look beyond the popularity of mainstream platforms and consider how digital services handle personal information, respect users’ rights and provide control over their online experiences.

Ya’u said CITAD’s vision was to build a digital society in which technology empowers people rather than exploits them, communities have a stronger voice in shaping online spaces, and personal information is protected rather than treated merely as a commercial resource.