By Aaron Ossai
Child rights advocates have called on the National Assembly, NASS to urgently pass the Child Online Access Protection and Online Violence Against Nigerian Child Bill, aimed at criminalising online abuse and strengthening protections for children in the digital space.
The appeal was made during a stakeholders’ roundtable held in Abuja on where experts and child protection advocates highlighted the growing dangers children face online.
According to a 2018 UNICEF report, a new child connects to the internet every half-second worldwide, exposing young users to various online risks.
In Nigeria, the situation is particularly concerning, with reports indicating that about 90 per cent of children encounter online threats such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, exploitation and other forms of digital abuse.
The proposed legislation seeks to protect children from cyberbullying, cyber abuse, cyber extortion and other harmful online activities.
To support its implementation, the bill proposes a 0.02 per cent levy on the assessable profits of search engines, telecommunications providers, artificial intelligence companies, gaming platforms, streaming services and social media application vendors operating in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the Country Director of Lawyers Without Borders Nigeria, Angela Uzoma, stressed that the bill would have a direct impact on the lives of Nigerian children.
She noted that a large majority of children now have access to digital devices through their homes, schools or peers, increasing their exposure to online dangers.
Uzoma said the legislation is designed to address threats such as cyberbullying, online grooming, sexual exploitation, sextortion and other forms of abuse perpetrated through digital platforms.
She urged all Nigerians, regardless of whether they are parents or guardians, to support the bill and join calls for its speedy passage by the Senate.
“We have cases where predators disguise themselves as children to target minors online. We also see instances of sextortion, where children are manipulated into sharing intimate images with adults posing as peers.
This bill is necessary to protect children from these growing threats,” she said.
Also speaking, Christiana Eguma, Coordinator of the General Unit in the National Assembly, said the bill is intended to enhance child safety in an increasingly digital world.
She observed that many children access the internet without adequate supervision, making them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
Eguma explained that the legislation would place greater responsibility on internet platforms to detect, prevent and remove harmful content targeting children.
“The bill promotes accountability among digital platforms while encouraging parents, schools and communities to play active roles in safeguarding children online. It aims to protect children not only from adults but also from bullying by their peers,” she said.
An educator, Oluwasesan Ifegbesan, also emphasised the need for collective action to shield Nigerian children from online harm. He called on parents and the wider public to remain vigilant and guide children on the responsible use of the internet and social media.
The advocates maintained that the swift passage of the bill would provide a stronger legal framework to combat online abuse and ensure safer digital environments for Nigerian children.
