Child rights advocates have called on the National Assembly to expedite action on a bill seeking to criminalise online abuse and strengthen protections for Nigerian children in the digital space, warning that millions of minors remain vulnerable to cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, grooming and other internet-related harms.
The call was made on Friday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ roundtable on the proposed Child Online Access Protection and Online Violence Against Nigerian Child Bill, which is currently before the National Assembly.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a legal framework for protecting children from cyberbullying, cyber abuse, cyber extortion and other harmful online activities. It also places obligations on digital platforms and service providers to strengthen safeguards for children using their services.
Advocates argued that the bill has become increasingly necessary as internet access among children continues to expand across the country.
A 2018 UNICEF report warned that every half-second, a child
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