The House of Representatives has passed for a second reading ‘A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Enactment of Child Online Access Protection Bill (2023) and Other Issues of Online Violence against the Nigerian Child’.
The bill also known as the “Child Online Access Protection Bill (2023)” is
sponsored by Hon. Olumide Osoba.
While sponsoring the bill before the House, Hon. Osoba raised concern about the safety of children in the digital age.
He noted that the Child Online Access Protection Bill (2023), is a pivotal initiative to shield the Nigerian child from the perils of online violence and exploitation.
“Raising our children in this era of the internet has become an enduring task.
“The threat of violence has
escalated, affecting our children physically, sexually, and psychologically.
“While we acknowledge the
significance of the Nigeria Data Protection Act signed into law on June 12, 2023, it is crucial to recognize the specific vulnerabilities children face in the digital space” Hon Osoba said.
Breeding ground
The bill which describes the internet as a breeding ground for threats to children also points out that the absence of mandates to sensitize and enlighten parents, the government, and the public on the alarming increase in child abuse due to online activities calls for a robust legislative intervention.
“We cannot afford to underestimate the impact of the internet on our children.
“Every child has the right to be protected from abuse, exploitation and violence stemming from cyber-bullying, cyber-extortion, identity theft, drug trafficking, phishing, and other forms of online abuse.
“Our child protection systems must be extensive and robust, ensuring the well-being and safety of our children.
Collaborative efforts
Osoba said that the bill was a collaborative effort from stakeholders, including legislators, clergymen, parents, the Police Force, Legal Aid, the Births and Death registry, Judiciary, Media, Social welfare offices, and Internet Service Providers.
He said that the bill proposes a “framework to prevent and address harms caused by serious online abuse or illegal and restricted online content”.
He also said that the bill “emphasizes the importance of reporting incidents promptly and highlights the steps for addressing various types of online abuse.
“Additionally, it outlines fines, imprisonment, and other penalties to discourage online aggression and violence”.
According to him, the bill “mandates Internet Service Providers to block access to materials depicting violent
conduct, regulate illegal/restricted content irrespective of the host, and remove intimate images and
videos shared online that negatively impact children”.
Hon Osoba called for collective action by the Representatives of the people, as parents and guardians of the future,
“We bear a collective responsibility to protect our children/citizens. The Child Online Access Protection Bill is a pivotal step towards ensuring a safer digital future for Nigeria’s youth”.
Hon. Osoba urged the House to support and pass the bill to complement
existing legislation and provide a comprehensive shield against online violence targeting children.
The bill was passed and referred to the Committee on Justice.
Emmanuel Ukoh
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