Advocates Push for Urgent Child Protection Bill in Nigeria

Advocates are calling on the Nigerian National Assembly to fast-track the Child Protection Bill, which seeks to criminalize online abuse and enhance protections for Nigerian children in the digital space. This call was made during a stakeholder roundtable in Abuja.

The proposed legislation aims to establish a legal framework to protect children from cyberbullying, cyber abuse, and online exploitation. Angela Uzoma, the Country Director of Lawyers Without Borders Nigeria, emphasized the urgent need for legislative intervention as children increasingly access digital devices, exposing them to various online dangers.

A UNICEF report from 2018 indicated that every half second, a child goes online, with studies showing that 90% of children encounter some form of online risk. Christiana Eguma noted that the bill would compel technology companies to take greater responsibility for the content hosted on their platforms.

The advocates stressed that while legislation is crucial, active involvement from parents and guardians is also necessary to ensure children's safety online.