The National Online Safety Coalition has welcomed the House of Representatives’ passage of the Child Online Access Protection Bill (HB 244).

Sponsored by Rep. Olumide Osoba, the bill passed Third Reading, aiming to curb online exploitation, enforce safety standards, and ensure accountability from technology companies.

In a statement in Abuja on Friday, the coalition praised Speaker of House Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the House Committee on Justice for their decisive leadership.

“Their actions demonstrate urgency and commitment to tackling the rising threats faced by children online,” the statement added, highlighting the House’s proactive approach.

The Committee Stage report adopted by the House incorporated key recommendations from Gatefield, aligning with findings in the State of Online Harms in Nigeria Report.

Ms Shirley Ewang, Advocacy Lead at Gatefield, said the legislation brings Nigeria closer to a digital ecosystem safeguarding children’s rights online.

Ewang urged the Senate to act urgently, noting online risks to minors are expanding at an unprecedented scale across the country.

Ms Khadijah El-Usman of Paradigm Initiative also praised the House, stressing the Senate must now complete this essential work to protect children online.

The Coalition highlighted that over 50 per cent of Nigerian children have experienced online harm, with 80 per cent of harmful content persisting beyond 48 hours.

It called on the Senate to prioritise the bill, noting its passage would lead to Presidential assent and full implementation.

“The legislation represents Nigeria’s most ambitious effort to establish enforceable standards for child online safety,” the Coalition said.

It reaffirmed commitment to working with policymakers, partners, and platforms to ensure the final law is effective, rights-respecting, and globally aligned.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, says elections succeed only when the public trusts the information they receive, not on technology alone.

He spoke on Friday in Abuja at the presentation of a book titled ‘The INEC Press Corps: Chronicles of Nigeria’s Election Journalists,’ authored by Mr Segun Ojumu.

Amupitan warned that even strong electoral systems could be weakened by misinformation, misinterpretation, or deliberate distortion of facts.

“Elections do not succeed on technology alone; they succeed when the public believes in the information they receive,” he said.

He added that journalists provide the “on-ground verification” that sustains confidence in the ballot and reinforces the credibility of the process.

“The credibility of our electoral process is paramount; it is the foundation upon which our democracy stands,” he said.

He described the more than 100 members of the INEC Press Corps as indispensable links between the commission and the voting public.

“Your role is critical. You are frontline correspondents who ensure outcomes are transparent and verifiable.

“You are important chroniclers who validate the integrity of the process for the entire nation,” he said.

Amupitan urged journalists to abandon reliance on rumour and instead verify all information directly from the commission.

He said the commission’s website and digital channels remained the most authoritative points of contact for accurate information.

He noted the impact of media reporting, citing coverage of the Anambra governorship election and the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration.

He called for sustained partnership to tackle vote-buying, rigging, and deliberate falsehoods that discourage voters or trigger unrest.

“The media must act against falsehoods that suppress turnout, incite violence, or undermine the integrity of our results,” he said.

He praised the author, saying the book documents the sacrifices and risks faced by journalists covering Nigeria’s complex elections.

He pledged continued openness, accountability, technological innovation, and collaboration as INEC prepares for the FCT polls and the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.

In his remarks, Ojumu said the book was inspired by eleven years of reporting on INEC and a decade of covering election cycles.

He said it was not merely a record of events but a tribute to journalists who work in volatile and demanding environments.

“When you flip these pages, you are reading a history of courage,” Ojumu said.

He cited the ordeal of colleague Chux Ukwuatu as one example of the dangers faced by journalists defending the public’s right to accurate information.

Ojumu said he hoped the book would inspire more press corps members to document their experiences for future generations.

He commended INEC’s technological reforms, saying digital accreditation and the IReV results portal had transformed election reporting.

He called for continuous training and mental-health support for journalists operating in high-pressure situations.

He urged INEC, political parties, security agencies, and the media to prioritise reporter safety, saying democracy thrives only “when the messenger is protected.”