A significant step towards safeguarding children from online violence was taken as a Bill for an Act was read for a second time on the floor of the House of Representatives in Nigeria. The proposed legislation, titled “A bill for an act to provide for the enactment of child online access protection bill, 2023 and other issues of online violence against the Nigerian child,” is aimed at ensuring a safer online environment for Nigerian children.
The sponsor of the bill, Hon. Olumide Osoba, who represents Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency in Ogun State, expressed his concerns about the potential harm unregulated internet use could have on the well-being of Nigerian children. He highlighted the escalating risks children face online, including physical, sexual, and psychological threats.
Speaking on the importance of the proposed law, Osoba emphasized the need to shield Nigerian children from online violence and exploitation. He acknowledged the existing Nigeria Data Protection Act but stressed the necessity of recognizing the specific vulnerabilities children face in the digital space.
The bill aims to address various forms of online abuse, such as cyberbullying, cyber-extortion, identity theft, drug trafficking, phishing, and more. Osoba argued that every child has the right to be protected from such abuses, and the proposed legislation seeks to establish a comprehensive framework through collaboration with stakeholders, including legislators, clergymen, parents, the Police Force, legal aid, births and death registry, judiciary, media, social welfare offices, and internet service providers.
Highlighting the collective responsibility to protect children, Osoba urged his colleagues in the House to consider the bill as a pivotal step towards ensuring a safer digital future for Nigeria’s youth. The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, referred the bill to the Committee on Judiciary for further consideration after its adoption for the second reading.
