0
Torkwase Nyiekaa
Civil society organisations, child rights advocates, educators, digital rights experts, students and policy stakeholders have renewed calls for stronger legal protections for children in Nigeria’s digital space, urging the National Assembly to expedite the passage of the Child Online Access Protection Bill.
The call was made during a high-level film screening and policy dialogue held at the National Assembly Library in Abuja, where participants highlighted the growing prevalence of cyberbullying, online grooming, sexual exploitation and other forms of digital harm affecting Nigerian children.
The event, organised by Gatefield, featured a private screening of Click, Bait, Repeat, a documentary that explores the experiences of children navigating increasingly complex and sometimes dangerous online environments.
Stakeholders at the gathering argued that while internet access has created new opportunities for learning, communication and innovation, existing laws and institutional safeguards have failed to keep pace with the realities of children’s digital lives.
Recent findings presented during the dialogue underscored the scale of the challenge. According to data shared at the event, nearly nine out of every 10 Nigerian children have experienced at least one form of online harm, while 89 per cent have been exposed to unsolicited sexual content online. The statistics further showed that 79 per cent of children report feeling unsafe online, while almost four in 10 adolescents have experienced cyberbullying.
Participants also cited findings from Gatefield’s State of Online Harms research, which revealed that 31 per cent of harmful content reported by Nigerian users was never removed by digital platforms, raising concerns about the effectiveness of existing reporting and moderation systems.
Speaking during the dialogue, Gatefield’s Growth Lead, Abdulrahman Adebayo, said the documentary was designed to move public discourse beyond statistics and focus attention on the human consequences of online abuse.
“Click, Bait, Repeat takes us beyond the data and into the lived experiences behind it. It reminds us that behind every percentage is a child, a family, and a story,” he said.
Adebayo noted that while awareness of online harms has increased in recent years, there remains an urgent need for stronger policy interventions to ensure children are adequately protected in digital spaces.
The dialogue also examined gaps within Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework, with stakeholders arguing that existing protections remain inadequate in addressing the evolving nature of digital threats.
Representing TechHer, Jemimah Inyangudo said children constitute one of the largest groups of internet users in Nigeria but remain among the most vulnerable online.
“The scale of child online harm in Nigeria demands more than awareness, it requires a coordinated policy response. Children are navigating digital spaces every day, but our current systems and safeguards have not kept pace with the risks they face. We need stronger protections, clearer accountability, and mechanisms that put children’s safety at the centre of digital governance,” she said.
Similarly, Angela Uzoma of Avocats Sans Frontières France highlighted the obstacles many victims and families face when attempting to report cases of online abuse.
“Many cases of online abuse never reach the appropriate authorities because children and families are unsure where to report, fear stigma, or lack confidence that action will be taken. Strengthening child online safety requires trusted reporting systems and effective pathways for accountability and redress,” she said.
Participants stressed that protecting children online requires a multi-layered approach involving government institutions, technology companies, schools, parents and civil society organisations.
Among the measures proposed were mandatory safety protections on digital platforms, faster removal of harmful content, stronger age-appropriate design requirements, accessible reporting mechanisms and greater accountability for technology companies that fail to address harmful content affecting children.
Stakeholders argued that children are too often expected to navigate digital risks independently despite the increasing sophistication of online threats.
Contributing to the discussion, Christina Eguma of the National Assembly’s Gender Technical Unit warned that unrestricted early access to digital platforms exposes children to significant risks and called for stronger safeguards throughout the digital ecosystem.
Central to the discussions was the Child Online Access Protection Bill, which has already passed the House of Representatives and is currently awaiting consideration by the Senate.
Participants described the legislation as a significant opportunity to establish clearer obligations for digital platforms, strengthen accountability measures and create a more comprehensive framework for preventing and responding to online harms.
They maintained that the bill would help close existing gaps in prevention, reporting, enforcement and redress, while providing stronger legal backing for child online protection initiatives.
The dialogue concluded with a collective appeal to Senate leadership to prioritise consideration of the legislation and ensure its timely passage.
Stakeholders warned that with millions of Nigerian children spending increasing amounts of time online for education, social interaction and entertainment, delays in strengthening legal protections could leave many vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
They emphasised that safeguarding children in the digital age requires coordinated action, effective legislation and a shared commitment by government, industry and society to place the welfare of children at the centre of Nigeria’s digital future.
