Nigeria plans to control internet access for children under 16 to keep them safe from online dangers and cyberattacks.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a new plan to control and manage how children under 16 years old use the internet across the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, shared this major news on Thursday, September 10, 2026, during a special event held in the capital city of Abuja.
Government officials met to launch a program that gives students free internet data to open approved school websites.
During the meeting, the government explained that while they are helping children learn online, they must also put strong guardrails on the internet so that young boys and girls do not see harmful things or fall into the hands of bad people online.
The main reason why the government wants to control internet use for young people is to stop cybercriminals from attacking children and to protect minors from bad internet content.
Government leaders noted that many young children browse the web without guidance, which exposes them to fake information, violent pictures, and dangerous strangers.
To solve this problem, security agencies will soon release clear rules that tell parents, schools, and phone network providers how under-sixteen children can use the web safely.
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The government emphasized that free internet for schoolwork must not turn into open access to every unsafe website on the web.
Explaining the importance of protecting young learners on the web, government leaders and education experts shared their plans with the public.
Speaking about the upcoming security rules for young internet users, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that “we will be regulating internet access for children below 16 years old, and further announcements on this will be coming from our security staff in the coming days or weeks”.
Highlighting the duty of the government to safeguard young citizens from online dangers, the minister added that “it is our duty to protect every Nigerian child, more so underage children, from all sorts of cyberattacks and digital exposure”. Security agencies will soon publish the full rules for public knowledge.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
