Nigeria Seeks Public Input on Child Online Safety Regulations

The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy  has opened a public consultation on proposed regulations to protect children on social media and other digital platforms, Minister Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani announced on Tuesday.

The survey, developed in partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), invites parents, educators, young people, digital professionals, and other stakeholders to weigh in on potential policy options before any regulatory framework is adopted.

“While the internet offers significant opportunities for learning, creativity, and communication, it also exposes children to risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation, misuse of personal data, and emerging challenges linked to artificial intelligence tools,” Dr. Tijani said in a statement accompanying the survey’s launch.

Among the policy approaches under consideration are age restrictions on platform access, strengthened age verification systems, platform accountability measures, and enhanced regulatory oversight. The proposed regulations are rooted in Section 31 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act), 2023.

The Ministry noted that governments globally are adopting varying approaches to child online safety, and stressed that any framework Nigeria adopts must reflect the country’s national priorities, respect children’s rights, and account for the realities of its digital landscape.

Officials described the consultation as an effort to produce evidence-based policy rather than impose top-down regulation. Information submitted through the survey, the Ministry said, will be used solely for policy research purposes.

The survey is available to the public at b.link/ChildOnlineSafety