The Nigerian House of Representatives’ move to shut down websites hosting pornographic content has sparked concerns among industry operators and experts, who warn that such censorship could set a dangerous precedent for internet freedom in the country.
On Tuesday, lawmakers directed the Nigerian Communications Commission, the telecom regulator, to block access to pornographic websites and impose sanctions on internet service providers that fail to comply.
The resolution followed a motion titled “Need to Block Internet Websites Hosting Pornographic Content and Sanction Defaulting Internet Service Providers,” sponsored by an APC lawmaker representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency, Katsina State, Dalhatu Tafoki.
The lawmaker argued that cyber pornography is harmful to societal values, marriages, and individual psychology, stressing that other countries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have enacted laws banning access to such content.
He said, “I would like to move a motion for the need to block internet websites hosting pornographic content and sanction the internet service providers responsible for the posting. The House notes that cyber pornography is fast becoming a global problem, and no concrete steps have been taken to cut its phenomenon in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a highly religious country, and all the major religions in the country forbid nudity and obscenity in any form. Also note that countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have passed legislation that bans pornography in their domains.
“Renowned psychologists and sociologists around the world have issued stern warnings that there are psychological and sociological consequences for creating ponographic content.
“The immediate effects of doing ponographic content include a. promotion of adultery, prostitution, and other promiscuous behaviours, leading to addiction, escalation, and desensitisation, change of attitude towards oneself and family.”
Despite initial opposition during the debate, the motion was ultimately adopted.
Reacting to this, the Executive Director at Paradigm Initiative, a telecom industry firm, Gbenga Sesan, criticised what he described as misplaced priorities by lawmakers.
“The obsession of our National Assembly with pornography and everything else apart from good governance is quite worrying! While this directive appears to make sense on the surface, because it builds on the problematic Section 24 of Nigeria’s notorious cybercrime law, it raises more questions than its alleged attempt to solve a problem,” he said.
Sesan warned that similar directives in the past have led to the unjustified blocking of legitimate media websites.
“In October 2017, the NCC shut down a media website, Naij.com, based on the directive of the Office of the National Security Adviser under the guise of restricting access to ‘illegal,’ pro-Biafra, websites,” he said, citing concerns about regulatory overreach.
He urged lawmakers to focus on more pressing digital threats rather than internet censorship.
“Nigeria has bigger problems, including those addressed in the cybercrime law Hon. Tafoki may have suddenly discovered, so one hopes that he will soon discover the sections that discuss tampering with critical infrastructure, cyber terrorism, cyber fraud, so he can wield his legislative stick where it is better required.”
The NCC has yet to issue a statement on the matter as efforts to get comments proved unsuccessful.
Telecom Executive at Adaba Consult, Ejike Onyeaso, highlighted the potential conflict with fundamental human rights, particularly freedom of expression and the right to privacy.
“The telecommunications industry might have the power to shut down sites, but it needs to be balanced with citizens’ rights,” Onyeaso said.
“It’s one thing to regulate content on broadcasting platforms like Pay TV, but websites operate differently. If an adult chooses to visit a site in private, should the government interfere?”
He noted that while concerns about societal morality are valid, any decision to implement a blanket ban must take into account legal and human rights considerations.
Further, Onyeaso compared the situation to the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission’s past directive prohibiting Pay-TV providers like DSTV from airing pornographic channels, noting that while such content restrictions on broadcast platforms were enforceable, applying them to the internet would be much more complex.
“If a Pay-TV platform airs explicit content nationally, that’s one thing. But a website is different. If an adult voluntarily chooses to access content online, should the government have the authority to block it outright? What about individual rights to private life and personal choices?” he asked.
The expert further argued that censorship on the internet could open the door to broader government restrictions on digital content.
“This could extend beyond pornography. If we go down this road, what’s next? Will the government start deciding what political or social content should be accessible? These are critical issues that must be considered,” he warned.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, Muhammed Rudman, expressed reservations about the implications of such a directive.
“Honestly, I can’t say much because I’m just hearing this from you. I am not aware, and it’s hard to comment when you don’t understand the direction.
“But anything that has to do with censorship, I don’t think, is good for the country,” Rudman said. “The problem with censorship is that once you start small, it gradually leads to infringement on people’s rights.” (punch)
