A coalition of 56 civil society organisations (CSOs) has intensified calls for the speedy passage of the Child Online Access Protection Bill, urging the Senate Committee on Rules and Business to prioritise the legislation before the National Assembly proceeds on its annual recess.
The coalition warned that any delay in the consideration of the bill could weaken efforts to protect millions of Nigerian children who increasingly rely on digital platforms for education, social interaction, creativity and civic engagement.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the organisations—including Gatefield Impact Foundation, Paradigm Initiative, Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France), Evergreen Initiative for Empowerment and Constructive Development, She Builds Lives Foundation, Child Survival and Family Development Foundation, and Tabitha Empowerment Foundation—described the bill as a critical safeguard against growing online threats facing children.
The groups noted that while internet access has opened up unprecedented opportunities for learning and innovation, it has also exposed young users to dangers such as cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation and digital abuse.
According to the coalition, Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital ecosystem and youthful population make it imperative for lawmakers to establish a legal framework that balances children’s access to technology with adequate protections.
“Nigerian children are increasingly learning, socialising and participating in civic life online. At the same time, evidence points to persistent risks, including exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, online exploitation and other digital harms,” the statement said.
The coalition cited research showing that 79 per cent of Nigerian children report feeling unsafe online, while nearly nine out of every 10 children have experienced at least one form of online harm, including exposure to unsolicited sexual content and other inappropriate materials.
The organisations also referenced Gatefield’s 2025 State of Online Harms Report, which found that 31 per cent of harmful content reported by Nigerian users remained online despite being flagged to digital platforms for removal.
They argued that the Child Online Access Protection Bill is not intended to restrict internet access for children but rather to ensure that digital platforms adopt stronger safeguards and child-centred protections.
According to the coalition, the proposed legislation would establish clearer responsibilities for technology companies operating in Nigeria, encourage age-appropriate design standards, strengthen accountability mechanisms and promote safer digital environments for young users.
The groups further stated that the bill would support transparency among digital service providers while creating stronger barriers against exploitative and harmful online content targeting children.
While commending the House of Representatives for already advancing the legislation, the coalition appealed to the Senate leadership to ensure that deliberations on the bill are not stalled by the upcoming legislative recess.
“Protecting children online is fundamentally about ensuring that digital spaces are safe by design and fit for young users,” the coalition stated.
It added that as countries around the world continue to strengthen legal protections for children in the digital age, Nigeria has a unique opportunity to develop a balanced and locally relevant framework that protects children’s rights without stifling innovation, digital inclusion or economic growth.
The coalition stressed that child online safety should be treated not only as a technology issue but also as a fundamental child rights and public policy concern.
According to the groups, ensuring safer digital spaces for children today will help build a more secure, inclusive and productive digital future for Nigeria.
They therefore called on lawmakers to make the Child Online Access Protection Bill a legislative priority and ensure its timely consideration before the Senate embarks on recess