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By Correspondent.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on parents, guardians, and other stakeholders to play more active roles in protecting children from harmful online content, warning that the growing reach of digital platforms has made internet regulation more complex.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr.Aminu Maida, said safeguarding minors in the digital space requires a combination of responsible parenting, public awareness, and stronger regulatory collaboration.
Maida explained that while digital platforms continue to expand globally, their cross-border operations often make effective monitoring and enforcement difficult for regulators.
He stressed that the first line of defence against harmful online exposure begins at home through careful supervision of children’s digital activities.
According to him, parents and guardians must adopt deliberate measures to control the type of content accessible to minors, noting that he personally enforces strict monitoring of his own children’s device usage to prevent exposure to inappropriate materials.
The NCC boss also encouraged internet users to take advantage of safety tools already embedded in many online platforms, including options for reporting abuse, harassment, and offensive content.
He noted that increased public awareness and use of such reporting mechanisms would significantly strengthen efforts to curb the spread of harmful materials online.
On the regulatory side, Maida disclosed that the NCC has reviewed and updated its Internet Code of Practice to improve oversight of digital platforms and service providers.
He explained that the revised framework empowers the commission to direct service providers to remove content considered harmful, unsafe, or offensive in line with existing regulations.
Maida further emphasized that online safety should not be left to regulators alone, urging members of the public to actively report dangerous or inappropriate content to relevant authorities.
He revealed that the commission is also working closely with agencies such as the National Broadcasting Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, and National Film and Video Censors Board to strengthen digital safety measures and reduce public exposure to harmful online materials.
Reassuring Nigerians, Maida said regulatory authorities are intensifying efforts to protect vulnerable groups, especially children and individuals with limited digital literacy, from emerging online threats.
He added that the commission remains vigilant and committed to ensuring a safer digital environment for all users across the country.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
