The Federal Government has announced plans to introduce measures aimed at regulating internet access for children below the age of 16, as part of efforts to protect young people from potential risks in the digital environment.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while speaking to students and other stakeholders. He said the government remained committed to expanding digital access for children, particularly for educational purposes, but stressed that such access must be accompanied by adequate safeguards.
According to Alausa, children should have access to digital resources that are appropriate, reliable, safe and consistent with Nigeria’s educational objectives and curriculum. He cautioned that expanding digital connectivity should not result in unrestricted access to every online platform simply because it presents itself as educational.
The minister described the proposed regulation as a forthcoming government initiative and said more details would be provided by security officials in the coming days or weeks.
He explained that the planned measures would outline how the government intends to safeguard children’s dignity and wellbeing while ensuring they continue to benefit from technology and digital learning.
The announcement comes as Nigeria continues to promote digital education and expand internet connectivity in schools, raising the need to balance access to online learning resources with stronger protections for children in the digital space.