Digital Exposure and its Implication for Online Child SexualAbuse in Nigeria - Legal and Policy Responses

Abstract

 In recent times, there has been an incremental trajectory in the digital exposure of children consequently resulting in unprecedented incidents of online sexual abuse. In Nigeria, internet penetration has exponentially improved particularly due to improved affordability of portable communication devices with android technology, reduced cost of data access plans, thus making internet connectivity and use a near constant. The COVID 19 pandemic, subsequent lockdown, and government mandate to continue teaching and learning online further cemented an insatiable baseline permissibly justifying children's frequent activity online. This paper establishes that although the issue of child online sexual abuse is rampant in Nigeria. This paper argues that Nigeria lags in effective safeguards and enforcement of laws and policies that significantly shield children from becoming victims of myriad forms of online sexual abuse that is visibly prevalent. It evaluates strategies that can be implemented to narrow the existing dearth in safe digital access whilst effectively protecting children from online sexual abuse.