A coalition of civil society organisations has called on the Senate Committee on Rules and Business to prioritise the passage of Child Online Access Protection Bill before proceeding on recess.

The warned that delay in the passage of the bill could slow efforts to strengthen protections for millions of Nigerian children navigating increasingly complex digital environments.

The coalition made the call in a statement signed by 56 civil society organisation including Gatefield Impact Foundation, Paradigm Initiative , Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France), Evergreen Initiative for Empowerment and Constructive Development,. She Builds Lives Foundation , Child’s Survival and Family Development, Tabitha Empowerment Foundation among others.

The coalition argued that Nigeria has an opportunity to advance a legislative framework that reflects its own context while ensuring children can safely access the benefits of the digital world.

With one of Africa’s largest youth populations and rapidly growing internet adoption.

They stated ” Nigerian children are increasingly learning, socialising, and participating in civic life online. At the same time, evidence points to persistent risks, including exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, online exploitation, and other digital harms. ”

Research cited by the coalition indicates that 79 percent of Nigerian children report feeling unsafe online, while nearly nine in ten have experienced at least one form of online harm, including exposure to unsolicited sexual content.

Moreso, Gatefield’s 2025 State of Online Harms Report also found that 31 percent of harmful content reported by users in Nigeria was not removed by platforms despite being flagged.

According to the organisations, the Child Online Access Protection Bill is intended to promote safer digital environments for children without restricting their access to the internete or limiting opportunities for learning, creativity, innovation, and participation in the digital economy.

They maintained that the bill would establish clearer responsibilities for digital platforms operating in Nigeria, encourage age-appropriate and safety-by-design approaches, promote greater transparency and accountability, and strengthen safeguards against harmful and exploitative online content.

While mentioning that the House of Representatives has already advanced the legislation, they emphasized that as the Senate prepares for recess, the coalition urged he Committee on Rules and Business to facilitate its timely consideration so that deliberations on the proposed framework can continue without unnecessary delay.

“Protecting children online is fundamentally about ensuring that digital spaces are safe by design and fit for young users,” the coalition said.

“As countries continue to strengthen safeguards for children in the digital age, Nigeria has an opportunity to develop a balanced, locally grounded framework that protects children’s rights while supporting digital inclusion and innovation.”

The coalition emphasised that safeguarding children online is a child rights issue, a public policy priority, and an investment in Nigeria’s future. It called on lawmakers to ensure that the Child Online Access Protection Bill receives timely attention as part of the Senate’s legislative agenda.