Child Protection Bill : Experts Warn Of Rising Online Abuse

Civil society organisations, child rights advocates and policy stakeholders have called for the swift passage of the Child Online Access Protection Bill, warning that Nigerian children face rising exposure to online abuse and exploitation.

They made the call during a policy dialogue at the National Assembly Library in Abuja, where participants raised concerns about gaps in legal and institutional protections for children in digital spaces.

The event, organised by Gatefield, featured a screening of Click, Bait, Repeat, a documentary highlighting cases of cyberbullying, online grooming and sexual exploitation affecting children in Nigeria.

Stakeholders cited recent data indicating that nearly nine in 10 Nigerian children have experienced at least one form of online harm, while 89% reported exposure to unsolicited sexual content. They also noted that 79% of children feel unsafe online, and about 40% of adolescents have experienced cyberbullying.

Despite the scale of the problem, participants said existing laws and regulatory frameworks have not kept pace with the country’s growing digital population.

Gatefield Growth Lead, Abdulrahman Adebayo said the documentary was designed to highlight the human impact behind the statistics.

He said the film, “moves beyond the data to the live experiences of children,” adding that each statistic represents real families and victims.

Speakers at the event also pointed to systemic challenges in reporting online abuse.

Angela Uzoma of Avocats Sans Frontières France said many cases go unreported due to fear of stigma, lack of awareness and limited trust in response systems.

Jemimah Inyangudo of TechHer said children are among the largest groups of internet users in Nigeria but remain insufficiently protected.

Participants called for stronger regulatory measures, including mandatory safety standards for digital platforms, faster removal of harmful content and improved reporting mechanisms.

They also stressed the need for age-appropriate platform design and stricter controls on early access to digital services.

The Child Online Access Protection Bill, which has passed through the House of Representatives and is currently before the Senate, was identified as a key legislative tool to address the gaps.

Stakeholders urged the Senate to expedite consideration of the bill, warning that delays could leave millions of Nigerian children vulnerable to online harm.

They said stronger legal protections, improved platform accountability and coordinated policy action are essential to safeguarding children in the digital space.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji