The National Information Technology Development Agency has called on stakeholders to provide input on the proposed Online Harms Protection Bill, which seeks to address the growing challenges of online safety in Nigeria.
In collaboration with Advocacy for Policy and Innovation, a non-profit organisation focused on advancing digital innovation and policy development across Africa, NITDA released a whitepaper outlining the framework for the bill.
The framework builds upon discussions from Nigeria’s inaugural Content Moderation and Online Safety Summit, held in July 2022, which underscored the need for effective regulatory action to protect Nigerians in the digital space.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the NITDA’s Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Hadiza Umar, the agency emphasised the importance of the whitepaper in stimulating public discussions about online safety.
“By releasing this whitepaper, we aim to foster a national conversation that will help shape the development of a comprehensive legal framework that balances citizen protection with a thriving digital ecosystem,” NITDA said.
The document provides an overview of the prevalence of online harms and suggests regulatory measures to ensure safety and security for users navigating digital and interactive content.
It also analyses global efforts and proposes best practices that could be adapted to Nigeria’s context.
However, NITDA clarified that the framework is not meant to be a definitive guide but rather a starting point for broader national dialogue and stakeholder engagement.
The regulator said the whitepaper will serve as a foundation for further consultations, including contributions from civil society, local and international internet platforms, security regulators, businesses, and the general public.
NITDA encouraged all stakeholders to read the document and provide feedback to refine the framework before the drafting of the final bill.
As part of the ongoing process, the agency stated it would collate responses and present them to relevant stakeholder groups for further discussion.
NITDA added that once developed, the bill is expected to offer a robust solution to combat online harm while promoting the responsible growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.