Lagos Government Delivers Strong Caution to Digital Content Producers Regarding Child Protection
The Lagos State Government has issued a firm and unequivocal warning to content creators and digital media producers across Nigeria, specifically targeting those who involve children in online content that breaches established child protection statutes. This stern advisory comes amid growing concerns over the welfare and dignity of minors featured in various digital productions.
Official Statement Highlights Deep Concerns Over Child Dignity
In a significant joint declaration released on Monday, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Mobolaji Ogunlende, alongside Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, expressed profound apprehension regarding what they termed the escalating portrayal and involvement of children in content that compromises their safety and undermines their inherent dignity. The authorities have observed a disturbing pattern where minors are increasingly featured in videos, skits, and other digital creations that expose them to potential harm, ridicule, or outright exploitation, often under the guise of entertainment and digital engagement.
The government emphasized that children must never be treated as mere props for online content. Any depiction that places them in harmful, degrading, or dangerous situations transcends poor creative judgment and enters the domain of criminal activity. Content creators are being urged to consider the long-term psychological, emotional, and social consequences such material may inflict on young participants, in addition to the severe legal repercussions awaiting adults responsible for its production or dissemination.
Legal Framework and Severe Penalties for Violations
The Lagos State Government has pointed content creators to several existing legal instruments that explicitly forbid the exploitation of minors. These encompass key provisions within:
- The Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State (2015)
- The Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015)
- The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act (2015)
Officials clarified that under these statutes, the creation, distribution, or monetization of content that sexualizes, abuses, or endangers children constitutes a grave criminal offence. Specific legal sections prohibit exploitative child labour, physical and emotional abuse, sexual offences against minors, child pornography, cyberstalking, and online harassment.
A particularly stringent provision is Section 32 of the Child’s Rights Act, which prescribes a prison sentence of up to 14 years for any individual found guilty of sexually abusing or exploiting a child. The government has stressed that there will be no leniency shown to offenders, irrespective of their social media popularity or follower count. It has reaffirmed an absolute zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of child abuse and warned that ignorance of the law will not be accepted as a valid defence in any prosecution.
Commitment to Enforcement and Prosecution
The Commissioner and the LSDSVA have pledged to collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies to identify, track, and prosecute creators who violate these protective laws. This partnership aims to ensure robust enforcement and serve as a powerful deterrent against the misuse of children in digital content.
This warning from Lagos authorities arrives at a critical juncture, as the digital content creation industry in Nigeria continues to expand rapidly. It serves as a crucial reminder of the legal and ethical boundaries that must be respected to safeguard the nation's most vulnerable citizens from potential harm in the pursuit of online virality and entertainment.
