A coalition of civil society organisations has urged the Senate Committee on Rules and Business to prioritise the passage of the Child Online Access Protection Bill before proceeding on recess. The coalition warned that delaying the bill could hinder efforts to strengthen protections for millions of Nigerian children navigating increasingly complex digital environments.
Coalition's Call for Urgent Action
The call was made in a statement signed by 56 civil society organisations, 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, Nigerian children are increasingly learning, socialising, and participating in civic life online.
Evidence of Online Risks
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.
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.
Purpose of the Bill
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 internet or limiting opportunities for learning, creativity, innovation, and participation in the digital economy. 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.
Legislative Progress
While the House of Representatives has already advanced the legislation, the coalition emphasised that as the Senate prepares for recess, the Committee on Rules and Business should 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."
Investment in Nigeria's Future
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.
