FG Considers Tougher Age Limits for Social Media Use by Children

LAGOS — The Federal Government has indicated support for stricter regulation of children’s access to social media platforms, following new survey findings showing strong public backing for tighter controls over minors’ online activity.

The position was made known at a national roundtable on child online protection held in Lagos, organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

The event brought together policymakers, digital rights experts, regulators and stakeholders to discuss online safety for children amid rising concerns over cyber risks and exposure to harmful content.

According to data presented at the event, a nationwide survey conducted by the ministry showed that 83.4 per cent of 585 respondents supported some form of regulation or restriction on children’s access to social media.

The survey, presented by Senior Special Adviser to the Minister, Kasim Sodangi, also revealed that 64.8 per cent of respondents supported direct regulation, while 18.6 per cent backed restrictions but preferred alternative age thresholds.

Findings further showed strong public support for raising the minimum age for social media use, with 64.5 per cent of respondents favouring an age limit of 16 or 17 years, higher than the widely used global benchmark of 13 years.

The ministry said nearly all respondents were Nigerians, suggesting the results reflect strong local concern over online child safety and digital exposure risks.

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The poll also highlighted widespread anxiety about children’s digital experiences, with more than 93 per cent of respondents expressing concern about risks faced by minors online. Of this figure, 69.2 per cent described their concern as extreme, while 24.3 per cent said they were highly concerned.

Exposure to harmful and inappropriate content was identified as the most pressing issue, with over 90 per cent of respondents flagging it as a major risk. Other concerns included cyberbullying, cyberstalking, online grooming, digital addiction and exploitation of minors.

The survey also pointed to a knowledge gap in digital safety awareness, with nearly three-quarters of respondents saying many parents and children are not sufficiently informed about cybercrime laws and consequences of online misconduct.

In addition, an overwhelming 97.6 per cent of respondents supported stronger responsibility for technology companies, urging social media platforms to adopt proactive measures to protect younger users from harm.

Speaking at the roundtable, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said the rapid expansion of digital platforms has made it necessary for governments to strengthen safeguards for children in the digital space.

Tijani said while social media offers opportunities for learning, creativity and innovation, it also exposes minors to significant risks that must be addressed through structured regulation.

“The debate should focus on implementing age restrictions effectively rather than questioning the need for such safeguards,” he said, adding that Nigeria can leverage digital identity systems and platform verification tools to enforce age-based rules.

He stressed that challenges around enforcement should not prevent the introduction of protective measures, noting that parents, schools, technology firms and civil society must all play roles in ensuring safer online environments for children.

Also speaking, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, warned that children are increasingly vulnerable to online threats.

He listed risks such as cyberbullying, cyberstalking, exposure to harmful content and mental health challenges as major concerns in the digital space.

Olatunji emphasised that while internet access remains important for education and development, stronger safeguards are required to ensure that children are protected from abuse and exploitation online.

The Federal Government is expected to continue consultations with stakeholders, including telecom operators, technology companies, educators and civil society organisations, before arriving at a final policy direction on social media regulation for minors.

FG Considers Tougher Age Limits for Social Media Use by Children

Couple Abducted in Kwara as Bandits Strike Twice in One Week

Lafiagi, Kwara State – Barely 48 hours after armed bandits killed one person and kidnapped two women in a Fulani settlement, suspected gunmen again struck in Lafiagi, headquarters of Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting a husband and wife in a midnight raid.

The latest incident occurred around 12 a.m. on Thursday, near the Provost Lodge area, where the armed men invaded a residence and took the couple to an unknown location, multiple community sources told reporters. A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons confirmed the abduction, saying the victims are Fulani and well known in the area. “The gunmen came around 12 a.m. and abducted a Fulani man and his wife from their residence near the Provost Lodge. They took them away, and nobody knows where they have been taken. The victim is related to Wudere, the Fulani leader the attackers were looking for during the last attack. Many people believe the incidents may be connected,” the source said.

The Thursday abduction is directly linked to an earlier assault on Monday, June 1, 2026, in the Sodo/Sawmill area on the outskirts of Lafiagi. At about 8 p.m., a group of armed bandits stormed a Fulani settlement, firing sporadically and sending residents fleeing into nearby bushes. During that attack, one male resident was shot and killed, while two women, aged 25 and 35, who are wives of the Seriki Fulani (Fulani community leader), were abducted. The gunmen specifically sought a Fulani leader known as Ardo (Wudere) but could not find him, and soldiers later repelled the attackers before police arrived, forcing them to retreat into the forest.

Confirming the Monday incident, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said, “Yes, one man was killed while two women, 25 and 35 years of age, who are wives of the Seriki Fulani, were abducted. The attackers targeted the Fulani leader, Ardo. And for now, we are still on their trail because before we got there, the military had repelled them, and they ran into the forest, but we are on their trail.” As of Friday morning, the two women abducted on Monday remain missing.

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Security analysts believe the Thursday abduction of the Fulani couple is a continuation of the same operation by the same gang. The male victim is reportedly a relative of Wudere – the very Fulani leader the bandits failed to capture on Monday. By abducting his relative and the relative’s wife, the gunmen may be trying to pressure the community or force the leader to surface. No group has claimed responsibility, and police have not confirmed any arrests.

While Kwara battles fresh abductions, troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army (under the 2 Division) recorded a major breakthrough in neighboring Kogi State. On June 3, 2026, terrorists attacked a residence near Solid Rock School in Ijalu, Egbe, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, kidnapping five members of a family, including a mother and her infant child. Upon receiving a distress call, troops mobilized immediately and worked alongside members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) to pursue the terrorists along their withdrawal route. The sustained pressure forced the kidnappers to abandon Mrs. Adekemi Idowu and her six‑month‑old baby near the Oro axis before fleeing into surrounding vegetation.

The Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, confirmed the rescue in a statement on Thursday: “Upon receiving the distress report, troops immediately mobilised in conjunction with members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), launching a pursuit operation along the terrorists’ withdrawal route. The sustained pressure mounted by the security team forced the terrorists to abandon Mrs Adekemi Idowu and her six‑month‑old child near the Oro axis before fleeing into the surrounding area. The rescued victims were safely returned to their residence, while troops have continued aggressive search operations aimed at rescuing the remaining victims and apprehending the perpetrators.” Efforts are ongoing to locate the other three family members still in captivity.

The rescue of the mother and baby follows two other successful operations by the 12 Brigade within the same week. On June 1, 2026, troops freed 23 kidnapped passengers along the Ayegunle–Bunu Road in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area. Earlier, on May 30, 2026, soldiers foiled a planned kidnapping operation and neutralized one suspected terrorist during an ambush in Lokoja Local Government Area.

The back‑to‑back incidents in Kwara and Kogi highlight persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s North‑Central region, where banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and farmer‑herder clashes have escalated in recent months. Residents of Lafiagi have called for increased military patrols and intelligence gathering to track the bandits believed to be hiding in forests bordering Kwara, Niger, and Kogi states. The Kwara State Police Command has assured citizens that operatives are on the trail of the abductors, but no timeline has been given for the rescue of the abducted couple or the two women taken on Monday.

Couple Abducted in Kwara as Bandits Strike Twice in One Week

INEC Warns Parties: Primaries After May 30 Deadline Risk Disqualification

ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated that political parties conducting primary elections after its May 30, 2026 deadline do so at their own risk, warning that such primaries remain invalid unless overturned by the Court of Appeal.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, gave the clarification while addressing concerns over the legal status of party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He explained that political parties are still required to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the existing INEC timetable while the commission’s appeal against a Federal High Court judgment is pending.

According to him, any political party that conducts its primaries outside INEC’s official timetable risks having such exercises declared invalid.

“Obviously, for now, any primary held outside INEC’s May 30 deadline will be invalid unless the Court of Appeal overturns the Federal High Court judgment in INEC’s appeal against the ruling that the timetable breached the Electoral Act 2026 in some of its provisions.

“In other words, for now, the political parties are better advised to be guided by the existing Act,” Haruna said.

The controversy stems from a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar in a case filed by the Youth Party, which challenged INEC’s electoral timetable and guidelines for the 2027 polls.

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In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, the court held that INEC exceeded its powers by shortening timelines set by the Electoral Act 2026, particularly those relating to the submission of party membership registers and candidate nomination details.

The court ruled that while INEC has powers to organise and monitor elections, it cannot alter statutory timelines provided by law for political parties’ internal processes.

Following the judgment, INEC filed an appeal and also sought a stay of execution, insisting that its timetable was issued in line with its constitutional responsibility to ensure smooth electoral planning.

The commission had earlier fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the window for political parties to conduct their primaries ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that submissions outside the deadline would not be accepted.

However, the legal dispute took another turn when another Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho upheld INEC’s authority to issue election timetables, while stressing that such powers must still operate within the limits of the Electoral Act 2026.

The conflicting court decisions have deepened uncertainty over the validity of party primaries conducted outside INEC’s approved schedule.

INEC maintained that until the Court of Appeal gives a final interpretation, political parties must continue to observe the existing timetable and avoid actions that could jeopardise their participation in the 2027 elections.

Political analysts say the ongoing legal battle could significantly affect candidate selection processes, warning that parties that ignore the deadline risk prolonged litigation and possible exclusion of their candidates.

INEC Warns Parties: Primaries After May 30 Deadline Risk Disqualification