While some Nigerian children have continued to suffer abductions, others don’t have peace online, as fresh concerns are emerging on how Nigerian children are constantly facing increasing threats from cyber criminals and online predators.

While the Internet has become both a lifeline and a danger zone for children, new reports have revealed that nine out of 10 Nigerian children online have faced at least one form of cyber risk, and more than half have directly experienced harm.

A report authored by Cece Yara Foundation and Gatefield, titled “Children Caught in the Web,” which revealed the concerns, noted that from cyberbullying to sexual exploitation, the scale of the crisis was undeniable. It noted that while other nations were racing ahead with enforceable frameworks, Nigeria remained dangerously behind.

According to the 14-page document, Nigeria relies on three overlapping laws, including the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015), the Cybercrimes Act (2015), and the Child Rights Act (2003).

It stressed that each law touches on aspects of child online safety, but none provides a unified, enforceable framework, stressing that the patchwork approach had left gaps where predators thrived and platforms escaped accountability.

The document noted, “The absence of a strict, coherent legal framework allows platforms to act only when compelled, rather than proactively safeguarding children online.”

In February, Nigeria adopted a new Internet Code of Practice (ICP). While it was a step forward, it remained riddled with blind spots. It placed responsibility on parents to activate parental controls, ignoring the fact that many lacked the skills or awareness to do so. Worse, it failed to address harmful design features such as autoplay and algorithmic recommendations that deliberately keep children hooked. Unlike global standards, the ICP does not restrict targeted advertising to minors, leaving them exposed to profiling and commercial exploitation.

While acknowledging HB244 as Nigeria’s first real framework and comprehensive attempt to close these gaps, the report said it introduced a 24-hour removal deadline for harmful content, established an eSafety Commissioner with auditing powers, and mandated transparency reporting from platforms.

“If passed, HB244 would finally give Nigeria enforceable teeth to protect its children online, something the ICP and older laws have failed to achieve,” it stressed.

Comparing Nigeria with other countries, the report noted that Nigeria was in contrast with other nations. For instance, France has fast-tracked legislation banning social media for children under 15, targeting implementation by 2026.

The EU Digital Services Act requires platforms to assess risks to child users, adopt age-appropriate design standards, and impose fines of up to six per cent of global yearly turnover for non-compliance. The UK Online Safety Act places a legal duty on platforms to reduce risks from harmful content, with regulators empowered to enforce penalties.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, harmful content involving minors remained online for more than 48 hours before any action was taken, and grooming cases often go unmanaged because no national system links digital evidence to case management.