The average Nigerian distrusts technology. That is both a fact and a statement. They view it as something that is out of their control and foreign to the extent that there is an involuntary acceptance that they will never understand how it works. Electronic signatures have become popular in recent years as businesses and corporations are able to execute contracts and transactions with their customers remotely. In Nigeria however, there seems to be a reluctance to take up this innovation due to the skepticism the average Nigerian has when it comes to trusting technology.
In today’s digital age, where convenience and efficiency are paramount, e-signatures have emerged as a popular solution for signing documents electronically. However, as with any technology that involves sensitive information, the question of safety and security often arises. Are e-signatures truly safe? For E-signatures, the main pain point is that most business owners do not know if they are valid or not, hence the hesitation. This week we look at the legality of e -signatures.
Are E- signatures legal in Nigeria?
Yes, e-signatures are acceptable and be used in the Nigerian law court. This is according to sections 93(3) and (2) of the Nigerian Evidence Act and the Cybercrimes and prohibition act of 2015. That said some transactions in Nigeria are not binding by e-signatures. They include Birth certificates, the creation and execution of wills, the cancellation of utility services, and Death certificates.
The Position of the Law on E-signatures
In Nigeria, the use of electronic signatures is permitted where a document must be signed for it to be valid. More so, the use of electronic signatures is permitted in situations where a document needs to be signed to avoid certain consequences. This entails using e-signatures for contracts or a transaction that is generally accepted, except excluded by the cybercrimes act.
The enacted legislation in Nigeria that recognizes e-signatures as enforceable are the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2015 and the Nigerian Evidence Act section(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes act that states that
“E -signatures regarding the purchase of goods and other transactions shall be binding”
E-signatures are binding in all types of contracts and transactions except for those that the Cybercrimes Act has explicitly highlighted. There are two major concerns that business owners who have adopted e-signatures for binding their contracts and transactions usually face. These are issues of security and confidentiality of the use of e-signatures in Nigeria. Most businesses maintain that although e-signatures defy geographical boundaries, they are less secure than traditional signatures. One of the reasons for this mode of thinking arises from the perception that a third party could intercept the signature and use them for questionable purposes.
It is the other way around though as individuals, businesses and organizations can adopt e-signatures because they are less likely to be copied, intercepted, or altered by unscrupulous third parties because they are transferred electronically.
Electronic signatures are valid under the Nigerian legal framework. Subject to exceptions set out in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, E-Signatures are sufficient proof of execution of all agreements or documents. Because the use of E-Signatures cannot and should not be stifled, regulators, government agencies, and parties to contracts may stipulate terms, rules, and regulations defining the form of acceptable electronic signature and the manner of their use to ascertain authenticity and approval of executed documents.
With Flowmono, you get encryption, robust authentication methods, compliance with legal regulations, and adherence to industry standards. We ensure the safety and integrity of signed documents by best practices so individuals and businesses can confidently adopt e-signatures, saving time, reducing costs, and contributing to a more sustainable future.
So yes, electronic signatures are generally considered safe and secure. They offer several advantages over traditional wet signatures in terms of security and authentication. While concerns about the safety of e-signatures are understandable, it is crucial to recognize that reputable e-signature providers prioritize security as a fundamental aspect of their service. Encryption, authentication protocols, and compliance with industry standards collectively ensure the safety and integrity of e-signed documents.
Choosing a trusted and reliable e-signature provider like Flowmono is important to minimize potential risks so you can rest assured that your e-signatures are safe and legally binding. Sign up on Flowmono today.
Are E-Signatures Safe In Nigeria?
The average Nigerian distrusts technology. That is both a fact and a statement. They view it as something that is out of their control and foreign to the extent that there is an involuntary acceptance that they will never understand how it works. Electronic signatures have become popular in recent years as businesses and corporations are able to execute contracts and transactions with their customers remotely. In Nigeria however, there seems to be a reluctance to take up this innovation due to the skepticism the average Nigerian has when it comes to trusting technology.
In today’s digital age, where convenience and efficiency are paramount, e-signatures have emerged as a popular solution for signing documents electronically. However, as with any technology that involves sensitive information, the question of safety and security often arises. Are e-signatures truly safe? For E-signatures, the main pain point is that most business owners do not know if they are valid or not, hence the hesitation. This week we look at the legality of e -signatures.
Are E- signatures legal in Nigeria?
Yes, e-signatures are acceptable and be used in the Nigerian law court. This is according to sections 93(3) and (2) of the Nigerian Evidence Act and the Cybercrimes and prohibition act of 2015. That said some transactions in Nigeria are not binding by e-signatures. They include Birth certificates, the creation and execution of wills, the cancellation of utility services, and Death certificates.
The Position of the Law on E-signatures
In Nigeria, the use of electronic signatures is permitted where a document must be signed for it to be valid. More so, the use of electronic signatures is permitted in situations where a document needs to be signed to avoid certain consequences. This entails using e-signatures for contracts or a transaction that is generally accepted, except excluded by the cybercrimes act.
The enacted legislation in Nigeria that recognizes e-signatures as enforceable are the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2015 and the Nigerian Evidence Act section(1)(a) of the Cybercrimes act that states that
“E -signatures regarding the purchase of goods and other transactions shall be binding”
E-signatures are binding in all types of contracts and transactions except for those that the Cybercrimes Act has explicitly highlighted. There are two major concerns that business owners who have adopted e-signatures for binding their contracts and transactions usually face. These are issues of security and confidentiality of the use of e-signatures in Nigeria. Most businesses maintain that although e-signatures defy geographical boundaries, they are less secure than traditional signatures. One of the reasons for this mode of thinking arises from the perception that a third party could intercept the signature and use them for questionable purposes.
It is the other way around though as individuals, businesses and organizations can adopt e-signatures because they are less likely to be copied, intercepted, or altered by unscrupulous third parties because they are transferred electronically.
Electronic signatures are valid under the Nigerian legal framework. Subject to exceptions set out in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015, E-Signatures are sufficient proof of execution of all agreements or documents. Because the use of E-Signatures cannot and should not be stifled, regulators, government agencies, and parties to contracts may stipulate terms, rules, and regulations defining the form of acceptable electronic signature and the manner of their use to ascertain authenticity and approval of executed documents.
With Flowmono, you get encryption, robust authentication methods, compliance with legal regulations, and adherence to industry standards. We ensure the safety and integrity of signed documents by best practices so individuals and businesses can confidently adopt e-signatures, saving time, reducing costs, and contributing to a more sustainable future.
So yes, electronic signatures are generally considered safe and secure. They offer several advantages over traditional wet signatures in terms of security and authentication. While concerns about the safety of e-signatures are understandable, it is crucial to recognize that reputable e-signature providers prioritize security as a fundamental aspect of their service. Encryption, authentication protocols, and compliance with industry standards collectively ensure the safety and integrity of e-signed documents.
Choosing a trusted and reliable e-signature provider like Flowmono is important to minimize potential risks so you can rest assured that your e-signatures are safe and legally binding. Sign up on Flowmono today.
