Stakeholders Discuss Proposed Online Harm Protection Bill

In a concerted effort to curb the misuse of Nigeria’s digital and cyber space, Advocacy for Policy and Innovation (API), in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), convened a two-day workshop to deepen public discourse and stakeholder engagement on emerging digital governance frameworks and online safety in Nigeria.

The initiative aims not only to protect individuals from online harm but also to foster a secure, inclusive, and rights-respecting digital environment for all Nigerians.

In her opening remarks, Victoria Manya, Co-founder of API, stated:

“The digital space is no longer a frontier—it is our public square, our classroom, our courtroom, and at times, our battlefield for those on X. And like any shared space, it must be governed—not by fear, not by force—but by fairness, rights, and responsibility.”

She emphasized the need for clear regulatory structures, including the proposed Online Harm Protection (OHP) Bill, which seeks to safeguard users and uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s digital identity.

Drawing from a German word Fremdschämen—which describes the embarrassment we feel on behalf of others—Manya noted the conflicting emotions people experience online.

“In today’s digital spaces, we often swing between Fremdschämen and Schadenfreude: laughing at someone’s downfall while scrolling past another person’s pain. This tension defines our online culture, where harm has become entertainment and empathy is lagging behind the algorithm. The internet didn’t break society—it simply made it visible. Regulation isn’t about nostalgia for a simpler past; it’s about building a future where innovation doesn’t equal impunity.”

She further stressed that while the benefits of the digital space cannot be overstated, failure to act comes at a high cost.

“Every day, Nigerians are exposed to harassment, exploitation, disinformation, and algorithmic violence. But the solution is not a digital iron curtain—it is a rights-based framework, rooted in local realities, guided by global lessons, and built through collective wisdom.”

In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, expressed support for a collaborative approach to regulation.

“The way forward is to co-design and co-create the regulations we all seek. Many of the atrocities committed online—bullying, hate speech, AI-generated harassment, revenge pornography, scams—can be traced to misuse of digital platforms like X and Facebook. While these platforms are powerful tools for communication, they have also become breeding grounds for abuse. I speak as someone who has been a victim.”

The Director General of NITDA, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, stressed the urgency of developing laws that can protect citizens from the growing power and influence of digital technologies.

“It’s worrisome if we, the stakeholders, cannot come together to legislate and address this monster that is spreading globally.”

The second day of the workshop focused on Governance Innovation Network for Generating Enhanced Regulation (GINGER), a policy innovation tool that uses evidence-based insights to inform regulatory action.

Speaking on GINGER, Victoria Manya said:

“This project is grounded in the belief that policies cannot rest on assumptions or intuition—they must be informed by evidence. One reason many policies fail is because they’re disconnected from the realities of Nigerians. That’s why they’re often scrapped with every new administration.”

Stakeholders were urged to support the drafting of the Online Harm Protection (OHP) Bill, which aims to establish a coordinated, rights-respecting framework for tackling harmful online behavior while safeguarding freedom of expression, digital innovation, and inclusion.