The National Online Safety Coalition has welcomed the House of Representatives’ passage of the Child Online Access Protection Bill (HB 244).
Sponsored by Rep. Olumide Osoba, the bill passed Third Reading and seeks to curb online exploitation, enforce safety standards, and ensure greater accountability from technology companies.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the coalition commended the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the House Committee on Justice for their decisive leadership.
“Their actions demonstrate urgency and commitment to tackling the rising threats faced by children online,” the statement said, acknowledging the House’s proactive approach.
The report adopted at the Committee Stage incorporated key recommendations from Gatefield, aligning with findings in the State of Online Harms in Nigeria report.
Ms Shirley Ewang, Advocacy Lead at Gatefield, said the legislation brings Nigeria closer to a digital ecosystem that safeguards children’s rights online. She urged the Senate to act swiftly, noting that online risks to minors are expanding at an unprecedented scale across the country.
Also speaking, Ms Khadijah El-Usman of Paradigm Initiative praised the House for the step taken, stressing that the Senate must now complete the work to protect children online.
The coalition noted that more than 50 per cent of Nigerian children have experienced online harm, with 80 per cent of harmful content remaining online for more than 48 hours.
It called on the Senate to prioritize the bill, saying its passage would pave the way for presidential assent and full implementation.
“The legislation represents Nigeria’s most ambitious effort to establish enforceable standards for child online safety,” the coalition stated.
It reaffirmed its commitment to working with policymakers, partners, and digital platforms to ensure the final law is effective, rights-respecting, and aligned with global best practices.
