CITAD Unveils Homegrown DANCIT App, Challenges Big Tech Dominance

CITAD Unveils Homegrown DANCIT App, Challenges Big Tech Dominance

By Samuel Luka

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has unveiled DANCIT, a locally developed messaging application designed to provide an alternative to mainstream digital communication platforms dominated by global technology giants.

The Centre announced the launch on Thursday during a press conference in Bauchi, where it called for greater protection of personal data and urged Nigerians to embrace locally developed digital solutions that promote privacy, community engagement and technological independence.

Speaking on behalf of CITAD’s Executive Director, Buhari Abba said DANCIT, which is hosted on the organisation’s own digital infrastructure, was designed to minimise unnecessary tracking, profiling and the commercial exploitation of users’ personal information.

He explained that the name DANCIT is derived from Dandalin CITAD, drawing inspiration from the traditional Hausa concept of dandali — a communal gathering place where people meet, exchange ideas and discuss issues affecting their communities.

According to Abba, the application places community needs, privacy and digital independence at the centre of its design.

“DANCIT is designed to offer an alternative by placing community needs, privacy and digital independence at the centre. Its purpose goes beyond exchanging messages; it is intended to support civic engagement, grassroots organising and digital rights discussions,” he said.

Abba described the initiative as a challenge to the concentration of power in the global digital technology industry, arguing that a healthy digital ecosystem requires room for competition, creativity and homegrown innovation.

He stressed that locally developed platforms could help Nigerians exercise greater control over their digital lives while creating opportunities for domestic technological development.

CITAD also called on the Federal Government, civil society organisations and educational institutions to support decentralised and locally owned digital platforms as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital sovereignty.

The Centre explained that digital sovereignty involves the capacity to make informed decisions about digital infrastructure, data governance and technological development in ways that reflect national and community interests.

“Encouraging Nigerian institutions and communities to develop, host and manage digital services can contribute to building local capacity and reducing dependence on external providers. It does not mean isolating Nigeria from the global internet,” Abba added.

He expressed concern over the growing dependence of journalists, civil society organisations, young people and ordinary citizens on digital platforms that, he said, raise concerns about data exploitation, the spread of misinformation and arbitrary content restrictions.

CITAD consequently urged policymakers, technology developers and the media to prioritise privacy, transparency, accountability and user control in shaping Nigeria’s digital future.

The Centre maintained that Nigerians should look beyond the popularity of digital platforms and pay closer attention to how they collect, process, store and use personal information, as well as how they protect users’ rights.

The unveiling of DANCIT comes amid broader discussions about data protection, digital rights and the need to strengthen local technological capacity in Nigeria.

Through the initiative, CITAD is seeking to promote greater public awareness of digital rights while encouraging the development and adoption of homegrown solutions capable of serving local communities and reducing reliance on externally controlled digital infrastructure.