The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to restrict its free daily internet data for students to approved educational platforms.
NATCOMS President, Mr Deolu Ogunbanjo, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
Ogunbanjo welcomed the Federal Government’s initiative to provide 100 megabytes (MB) of free daily internet data to five million students, describing it as a positive development that would improve access to digital learning resources.
He, however, said there was a need for strict controls to prevent students from accessing inappropriate online content.
According to him, the 100MB allocation should be configured specifically for approved educational websites and platforms, including digital libraries and e-learning resources.
He said restricting the data to designated educational platforms would ensure that the initiative achieved its intended purpose while reducing the risk of students accessing harmful content.
The NATCOMS president expressed concern that unrestricted internet access could expose young people to inappropriate materials and encourage misuse of the data allocation.
He cited concerns over children sharing explicit images and engaging in other unsafe online activities.
Ogunbanjo urged the NCC to put adequate safeguards in place to ensure that the data allocation was used only for approved educational purposes.
He said such measures would also give parents greater confidence in the initiative.
The NATCOMS president welcomed the reported partnership between the NCC and the Ministry of Education, describing it as a “win-win” arrangement for students.
On the initial target of five million beneficiaries, he acknowledged that the figure might not cover all students who could benefit from the programme.
Ogunbanjo, however, urged the government to first assess the initiative before considering an expansion.
He suggested that the number of beneficiaries could be increased in subsequent years based on an evaluation of the programme’s effectiveness and level of utilisation.
“Let’s give them a chance. They are just about to start the implementation of the initiative,” Ogunbanjo said.
He commended the Federal Government and the commission for taking the first step, expressing hope that the programme would eventually reach more students across the country.
It was reported that the Federal Government’s free students’ data initiative is scheduled to start on Oct. 1.
