The House of Representatives is poised to pass the Child Online Access Protection Bill, a landmark piece of legislation designed to regulate children’s access to the internet and shield them from online exploitation.
Sponsored by Honourable Olumide Osoba, the bill seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework that will protect Nigerian children from harmful online content while holding digital service providers accountable for violations.
Speaking during an interactive session on the proposed legislation, Osoba said Nigeria aimed to become the first African country to enact such a law, noting that similar child-protection measures have already been adopted in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Brazil.
He stressed that the bill would penalise online predators and ensure greater accountability across the digital ecosystem.
“The bill was first read in 2023, and we held a public hearing in the first quarter of 2024. The report was laid just yesterday, and consideration was meant to take place today. By the grace of God, on the next legislative day, we’ll consider it and move it to the Senate for concurrence,” Osoba said.
The lawmaker explained that the bill had initially been delayed due to adjustments required to reflect the federal government’s new tax laws, particularly a provision mandating service providers to contribute part of their profits towards online safety initiatives.
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Under the proposed law, an E-Commissioner will be appointed within the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy to act as a watchdog for the online space. The commissioner will be empowered to monitor violations and instruct service providers to remove harmful or infringing content. Penalties for non-compliance include fines and possible jail terms.
Corporate offenders could face fines of up to ₦10 million, while individual offenders may be liable for up to ₦5 million or imprisonment.
Osoba added that existing institutions such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) would collaborate with the new department to ensure effective implementation.
He urged the public and the media to support advocacy for the bill’s passage, emphasising that the legislative process required time and wide consultation.
If enacted, the Child Online Access Protection Bill will become Nigeria’s first dedicated framework to safeguard children from online harm and strengthen accountability in the country’s rapidly expanding digital landscape.
