In a bid to strengthen digital governance and combat online abuse in Nigeria, Advocacy for Policy and Innovation (API), in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), hosted a two-day stakeholder workshop focused on the proposed Online Harm Protection (OHP) Bill.
The forum, held to promote safer digital engagement, brought together policymakers, civil society actors, and technology experts to discuss regulatory approaches for safeguarding online users while preserving freedom of expression and digital innovation.
Victoria Manya, Co-founder of API, described Nigeria’s digital space as a vital public arena that must be governed with fairness and responsibility. “The internet didn’t break society—it simply made it visible,” she said. “Regulation isn’t about nostalgia for a simpler past; it’s about building a future where innovation doesn’t equal impunity.”
Manya emphasized the importance of a rights-based regulatory framework that reflects local realities and addresses the growing prevalence of online harassment, disinformation, and algorithmic bias.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, endorsed a collaborative approach to digital regulation, citing personal experiences with online abuse. “We must co-design and co-create the regulations we seek,” he said, stressing the dangers of unregulated platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
NITDA Director General, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, underscored the urgency of developing legislation to address the global rise of digital harm, warning that failure to act could have serious consequences.
The workshop also introduced the Governance Innovation Network for Generating Enhanced Regulation (GINGER), a policy tool designed to inform evidence-based regulatory decisions. Manya noted that disconnected and assumption-driven policies are often unsustainable, especially with changing administrations.
Participants were urged to support the drafting and passage of the OHP Bill, which seeks to create a coordinated legal framework to combat harmful online behavior while upholding digital rights and inclusion.
