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The House of Representatives has instructed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to prevent citizens from accessing websites that offer pornographic and obscene material within the country.
The lawmakers stated that this ban aims to safeguard societal values among Nigerians, especially the youth, due to rising concerns about the negative effects of such content.
They called for the commission to immediately direct internet service providers (ISPs) nationwide to comply with this order.
This directive came after a motion introduced by Katsina State lawmaker, Dalhatu Tafoki, who claimed that unrestricted pornography access adversely affects Nigerian cultural and moral values.
Tafoki pointed out that many countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have already implemented laws against pornography.
He also cited warnings from experts regarding its harmful effects, stating, “Prominent psychologists and sociologists globally have raised serious alarms about the psychological, sociological, and mental repercussions of engaging with pornographic materials.”
The motion garnered broad support from lawmakers and was passed through a voice vote managed by House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas.
Lawmakers stressed the necessity of protecting young Nigerians from the potential dangers of explicit content, which include associations with adultery, prostitution, and addiction.
The House also urged the NCC to guarantee immediate compliance from ISPs and to enforce penalties on any service provider that neglects the directive.
This resolution signifies a larger initiative to limit the availability of explicit content and align Nigeria with international efforts to regulate online materials viewed as harmful to societal values.
