NITDA DG Advocates Inclusive Law to Combat Online Harms
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for the enactment of an inclusive and citizen-centered legal framework to tackle online harms, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and rights protection in Nigeria’s digital space.
Inuwa made the call in Abuja on Monday during a multi-stakeholder workshop on the draft Online Harm Protection (OHP) Bill, organized by the Advocacy for Policy and Innovation (API) in collaboration with NITDA. Themed “Inclusive Dialogue on the OHP Bill: Accountability, Rights, and Safety Online,” the event brought together policymakers, civil society, academia, and digital industry stakeholders.
Highlighting the growing influence of digital platforms, Inuwa warned that big tech companies now wield unprecedented power over what people see, think, and believe—often without democratic oversight. “We now live in a world where algorithms decide what we see, know, and even think. This is unaccountable power, and we must act collectively to address it,” he said.
He noted that for nearly two decades, digital technology in Nigeria has been viewed primarily through a consumer lens. However, he argued, the internet has evolved into a fundamental force shaping politics, culture, and society—necessitating a more strategic and regulatory approach.
To address this challenge, the NITDA chief advocated for a collaboratively developed legal instrument that ensures platform accountability, protects digital rights, and fosters transparent governance of the internet. He explained that the current draft OHP Bill builds on lessons from the 2021 Twitter suspension saga in Nigeria, which led to NITDA’s Code of Practice for online platforms—now serving as the white paper behind the proposed legislation.
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The Bill, Inuwa said, will establish an Online Harm Protection Centre—a semi-autonomous body equipped with oversight mechanisms, stakeholder engagement, and a redress system to address online abuses. “This legislation must not be about control but about co-creating a safe, inclusive, and rights-respecting digital environment for all Nigerians,” he added.
In her remarks, Victoria Manya, Co-founder of API, described the OHP Bill as more than a legislative tool, calling it a “social contract” tailored to reflect Nigeria’s unique values and digital challenges. She stressed that “regulation is not about censorship; it’s about protection.”
Manya underscored that the drafting process is rooted in inclusivity, especially in addressing cyberbullying, gender-based violence, hate speech, and disinformation through a rights-based lens. “The internet didn’t break society, but it has revealed its deepest complexities,” she said.
The workshop was officially declared open by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who lauded the participatory approach in crafting the Bill. He assured participants of the National Assembly’s readiness to prioritize the proposed legislation, describing it as both timely and necessary.
Also speaking, Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide, Chairman of the House Committee on ICT, reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to fast-tracking the first reading of the Bill and promoting robust debates around its provisions.
The workshop provided a platform for dialogue and technical input from diverse sectors, signaling a major step toward enacting a comprehensive law to safeguard Nigeria’s digital future. Stakeholders expressed optimism that the OHP Bill, when passed, would promote a safer, more democratic, and inclusive online ecosystem.
By PRNigeria
