The Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity is advancing legislation to protect Nigerian minors from harmful online content and excessive technology use.

At a two-day legislative retreat on Digital Rights and Digital Legislation in Lagos, chaired by Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, concerns were raised about children spending increasing amounts of time in isolation with gadgets, a shift from communal engagement that may hinder social development.

“They sometimes know technology better than their parents. Without controls, they are exposed to harmful content. Excessive screen time is not just a moral issue; it ‘pollutes minds’ and distorts psyches,” Salisu said. “We need laws and regulations to protect minors and ensure balanced online access.”

House Committee on ICT Chairman, Stanley Adedeji, emphasized that a Digital Rights Bill aims to safeguard citizens while enabling Nigeria’s push toward a fully digital economy. “Our job is to strike a balance between legality, ethics, and innovation,” he noted.

The retreat, organized by Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France) in collaboration with Paradigm Initiative (PIN) and the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), focused on updating and harmonizing Nigeria’s digital rights framework, including artificial intelligence regulations.

Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, Head of ASF France’s Nigerian office, explained the goal: “As technology evolves, human rights protections must also evolve. We are ensuring legislation captures emerging technologies while respecting citizens’ rights.”

International support came from Jessica Odudu, Embassy of the Netherlands, highlighting the link between digital rights and democratic trust. “The economy cannot thrive without respected rights,” she said.

Paradigm Initiative’s Gbenga Sesan stressed the importance of trust in the digital space. “Phones are seized, citizens arrested arbitrarily. Security without trust, justice, and rights is impossible. Nigeria cannot build a $1 trillion digital economy without this foundation.”

Media Rights Agenda’s Edetaen Ojo added that current laws largely criminalize conduct rather than protect citizens online. The new Digital Rights and Freedoms Bill 2024 seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for online human rights protection aligned with Nigeria’s constitution and international standards.

The retreat concluded with a consensus on the urgent need for forward-looking legislation to safeguard minors and all Nigerians as digital transformation accelerates.