• NASS commits to fast-track passage of online safety Bill
The Gatefield State of Online Harm in Nigeria report unveiled yesterday, has revealed that millions of Nigerian children are entering digital spaces without adequate protection, adding that 50 per cent of internet users experience online harms regularly, while 90 per cent of children face online risks.
The report, which surveyed over 500 Nigerian internet users, also showed that 58 per cent of online harms target women, 34 per cent occur on X (formerly Twitter), while 31 per cent reported that harmful online contents were never removed.
The findings were presented at the Gatefield Child Online Safety Forum, convened in Abuja with support from Paradigm Initiative and Luminate, bringing together policymakers, regulators, and civil society organisations to address the growing threat of online harm.
Presenting the new data, Advocacy Lead at Gatefield, Shirley Ewang Olanrewaju, noted that the lack of platform accountability is creating real-world harm and emphasised the need for Nigeria to regulate online spaces effectively without infringing on freedom of expression.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman, House Committee on Justice and sponsor of the Child Online Access Protection Bill (2023), Olumide Osoba, pledged to ensure the passage of the bill within three months, describing it as a “national emergency for digital safety.”
He noted that the Internet, though an extraordinary tool for education, innovation, and social connection, has also become a space where children encounter cyberbullying, online grooming, identity theft, exploitation, and harmful content that threaten their safety, dignity, and mental health.
Osoba lamented that the internet had become a space where children encounter daily harm, stressing that every sector needed to play its part in building a culture of online responsibility.
The lawmaker explained that the proposed legislation would establish a legal framework for safeguarding minors in digital environments.
According to him, the bill mandates the prompt removal of illegal content, platform accountability, and penalties for non-compliance by internet service providers and digital platforms.
Osoba pointed out that the bill recognises that while Nigeria has made commendable progress through initiatives such as the Nigeria Data Protection Act (2023), the vulnerabilities of children in cyberspace remain unique and urgent.
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu, emphasised that the Bill would set new standards for responsible data handling and child protection online, while urging stronger accountability from global tech platforms.
Insights and Analytics Lead at Gatefield, Farida Adamu, said: “An entire generation is navigating online threats without safeguards. Every day we delay, more children face preventable harm.”
