House ICT & Cybersecurity Chair, Hon. Olajide, Calls for Urgent Legal Framework to Combat Online Harms in Nigeria. -

The Chairman of the House Committee on Digital Information, Communication Technology and Cybersecurity, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide, has emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to adopt a comprehensive legal framework to combat the growing threat of harmful online content.

Speaking in Abuja at a high-level workshop organized by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the Advocacy for Policy and Innovation (API), Hon. Olajide highlighted the dangers of leaving Nigeria’s digital space unregulated.

The workshop convened stakeholders from government, civil society, the tech sector, academia, and legal experts to advance discussions on the draft Online Harm Protection (OHP) Bill.

Representing the Ibadan North-west/Ibadan South-west federal constituency of Oyo State, Olajide stressed the need for a coordinated, inclusive approach to online safety.

“We cannot pretend that these threats don’t exist. Every day, young people, women, and even government institutions suffer due to cyberbullying, misinformation, identity theft, and the spread of harmful content online. The time to act is now,” he said.

The OHP Bill, he explained, was developed through a multi-stakeholder steering committee arising from the December 2024 White Paper on Online Harm Protection. The White Paper laid out the policy direction and guiding principles for a national approach to online safety.

“This is not about censorship—it’s about protection. It’s about ensuring Nigeria builds a resilient, inclusive digital environment where rights are safeguarded and responsibilities are well defined,” Olajide added.

He further noted that the Bill, once enacted, will align Nigeria with international best practices in digital governance while addressing the unique realities and challenges faced within the country.