By Deborah Nnamdi
The National Information Technology Development Agency has called on stakeholders to provide input on the proposed Online Harms Protection Bill, which aims to address the growing challenges of online safety in organizations with Advocacy for Policy and Innovation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing digital innovation and policy development across Africa, NITDA has released a whitepaper outlining the bill’s framework.
The framework builds upon discussions from Nigeria’s inaugural Content Moderation and Online Safety Summit, held in July 2022, which highlighted the need for effective regulatory action to protect Nigerians in the digital space.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the agency’s Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Hadiza Umar, NITDA 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 stated.
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 intended to be a definitive guide, but rather a starting point for broader national dialogue and stakeholder engagement.
The whitepaper would serve as a foundation for further consultations, including contributions from civil society, local and international internet platforms, security regulators, businesses, and the general public.
Once developed, the bill is expected to offer a robust solution to combat online harms while promoting the responsible growth of Nigeria’s digital economy, NITDA added.
