Nigeria to Regulate Internet Access for Children Under 16

The Federal Government of Nigeria is in the process of formulating regulations to control internet access for children below 16 years old. Prof. Tunji Alausa, the Minister, announced that the government aims to ensure that any educational content accessible to children meets specific standards of appropriateness, credibility, safety, and alignment with national educational objectives and curriculum.

Alausa emphasized that the initiative will extend beyond mere content filtering, indicating a comprehensive regulatory approach to children's internet access. Although no specific timeline or draft policy has been released, the government's stance represents a significant shift towards stricter oversight of children's digital activities.

This move comes in response to growing concerns from educators and child welfare advocates regarding the safety of online content for minors. The proposed framework aims to protect young internet users in Nigeria, which has a large and expanding population of young digital consumers.