The Federal Government is preparing measures to regulate internet access for children below the age of 16 as part of efforts to make Nigeria’s digital environment safer for young people.

The proposed measures are aimed at protecting children from risks such as harmful content, cyberbullying, online exploitation, grooming and misuse of personal data. The government has previously indicated that possible measures could include age restrictions, stronger age-verification systems and greater accountability for technology platforms.

However, the government has not yet released a final list of platforms that would be affected or explained exactly how the proposed restrictions would be enforced. Officials are expected to provide more details as the policy is developed.

The government has also stressed the importance of ensuring that children do not lose access to useful digital resources. In a related move, the Federal Government announced that approved educational platforms will receive free data access for Nigerian students from October 1, 2026, with the aim of supporting learning and educational access.

The planned restrictions are therefore expected to focus on balancing child safety with access to education and other beneficial online services.