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Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has called for the enactment of a citizen-centric legal framework aimed at addressing online harms in Nigeria. He emphasized the need for a balanced approach that ensures accountability while safeguarding digital rights.
Inuwa made the remarks in Abuja during a multi-stakeholder workshop on the draft Online Harm Protection (OHP) Bill, organized by Advocacy for Policy and Innovation (API) in partnership with NITDA. The workshop, themed “Inclusive Dialogue on the OHP Bill: Accountability, Rights, and Safety Online,” convened key stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, and the tech industry.
Addressing the gathering, Inuwa highlighted the unchecked power of digital platforms and the growing influence of algorithms in shaping public opinion. “We live in a world where algorithms determine what we see, know, and believe—this is a form of unaccountable power that demands collective action,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s digital development has long been driven by consumer priorities, but the evolving role of the internet now requires a more strategic, rights-based regulatory approach. Inuwa called for inclusive co-creation of legal tools that ensure platform accountability, uphold individual rights, and promote transparent digital governance.
Referencing lessons learned from the 2021 suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, Inuwa noted that the draft OHP Bill draws from NITDA’s Code of Practice for online platforms, which now forms the basis of the proposed legislation. A key feature of the Bill is the establishment of an Online Harm Protection Centre—a semi-autonomous agency with oversight powers, stakeholder engagement mechanisms, and a complaints redress system.
“This law must be about building trust and safety online—not control. It should serve as a co-created framework that reflects our shared digital future,” Inuwa emphasized.
API Co-founder, Victoria Manya, described the OHP Bill as a “social contract” rooted in Nigeria’s cultural realities and digital challenges. She reiterated that regulation is not about censorship, but protection. “The internet hasn’t broken society—it has exposed its complexities. This legislation provides an opportunity to address them responsibly,” she said.
The workshop was officially opened by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who commended the inclusive legislative process and pledged the National Assembly’s support for the Bill. He affirmed its timeliness and national importance.
Also speaking, Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide, Chair of the House Committee on ICT, reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to expediting the Bill’s first reading and encouraging robust national dialogue around its provisions.
The workshop concluded with participants expressing strong support for a comprehensive legal framework that protects users while promoting a democratic and inclusive digital environment in Nigeria.
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