The Nigerian Government has issued a Code of Practice for Online platforms operating in the country.
In a statement from the media officer of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar, the new code was designed to guide the operations of interactive computer service platforms and internet intermediaries.
The agency says it will also protect the fundamental human rights of Nigerians, non-Nigerians living in the country and define guidelines for interacting on the digital ecosystem.
The code, according to NITDA was developed with input received from online platforms including Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Google, among others.
It will also hold online platforms accountable for unlawful and harmful information on their platforms.
Requirement
“The code requires Internet platforms to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and appoint a designated country representative to interface with the Nigerian authorities.”
It also required that they comply with all regulatory demands and applicable tax obligations in its operations under Nigerian law.
Compliance
On content moderation, NITDA said Internet platforms must provide a comprehensive compliance mechanism to avoid publication of prohibited contents and unethical behaviour on their platforms.
They must also “provide information to authorities on harmful accounts, suspected botnets, troll groups, and other coordinated disinformation networks and deleting any information that violates Nigerian law within an agreed time.”
NITDA explained that the new rules were developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and input from Interactive Computer Service Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Google, and Tik Tok amongst other.
“Other relevant stakeholders with peculiar knowledge in this area were consulted such as Civil Society Organisations and expert groups. The results of these consultations were duly incorporated into the Draft Code of Practice.”
Online regulation
The development is a fresh move by the government to regulate online platforms, amidst concerns that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is clamping down on free speech and internet freedom — a move which the government has denied.
Prohibitions
Part of the content of the code of conduct stated that no platform should keep prohibited materials or make them available for access when they are informed of such materials.
“Prohibited material is that which is objectionable on the grounds of public interest, morality, order, security, peace, or is otherwise prohibited by applicable Nigerian laws,” it explained
The Country’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had asked the national assembly to enact a law to regulate online media.
Alhaji Mohammed had told the house of representatives that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Act should be amended to empower the agency to regulate all social and online media platforms in the country.
The amendment to the NBC ACT, which was being considered by the lower legislative chamber at the time, was later suspended following public outrage.
The development came after a six-month ban on Twitter operations in Nigeria, which ended in January 2022, over what the Nigerian Government described as “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.”
The Nigerian government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Nigeria fully harnesses the potential of the Digital Economy and safeguard the security and interest of its citizens in the digital ecosystem.
The Draft Code of Practice is available on the NITDA website via https://nitda.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Code-of-Practice.pdf for review and comments from the public.
Lateefah Ibrahim /Qasim Akinreti
