The House of Representatives has come under widespread backlash from Nigerians after mandating the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to enforce a total shut down of all pornographic websites within the nation.
This contentious order, was given during Tuesdayโs plenary, compelling internet service providers to obstruct access to these platforms forthwith.
The motion, sponsored by Dalhatu Tafoki, the legislator representing the Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal constituency, was ostensibly tabled to โprotect society valuesโ
He said, โI would like to move a motion for the need to block internet websites hosting pornographic content and sanction the internet service providers responsible for the posting. The House notes that cyber pornography is fast becoming a global problem, and no concrete steps have been taken to cut its phenomenon in Nigeria.
โNigeria is a highly religious country, and all the major religions in the country forbid nudity and obscenity in any form. Also note that countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have passed legislation that bans pornography in their domains.
โRenowned psychologists and sociologists around the world have issued stern warnings that there are psychological and sociological consequences for creating ponographic content.
โThe immediate effects of doing ponographic content include a. promotion of adultery, prostitution, and other promiscuous behaviours, leading to addiction, escalation, and desensitisation, change of attitude towards oneself and family.โ
The House adopted the motion and tasked its Committees on Communications and Legislative Compliance with overseeing its execution, requiring them to submit a report within four weeks for subsequent legislative steps.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abass, further cautioned that internet service providers failing to comply would face penalties. Lawmakers unanimously endorsed the motion through a voice vote, solidifying their collective support for the directive.
However, the decision has incited fury among citizens, who perceive it as an overreach of governmental authority and an affront to personal freedoms, further exacerbating public discontent toward the legislative body.
Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions to the government’s decision to block access to porn platforms.
“One of the most frustrating traits of Nigerian leaders is their tendency to announce plans before implementation, often leading to inaction. For instance, the announcement of this ban will likely drive more Nigerians to visit these sites out of curiosity, just to verify if the block has been enforced. Ironically, this could result in a surge in traffic to these platforms, undermining the very purpose of the ban,” said a Facebook user.
“This is a positive step, but the urgency and effort used to pass this bill should also be applied to more critical legislation. For instance, bills addressing the age requirement for government employment, the disparity between HND and BSc holders, and the energy crisis deserve the same level of attention and expediency”, said one responded.
Another one has this to say: “Every challenge has a solution. If the government channeled the same vigor theyโve shown in addressing these relatively minor issues into solving Nigeriaโs larger problems, the country would be in a much better state for all its citizens. That said, I support the decision to shut down these platforms, including betting sites like BetNaija. However, they should avoid interfering with cryptocurrency, as it plays a significant role in the economy.”
“Nigeriaโs problem is a clear case of misplaced priorities. While the nation is in crisis, our leaders are focusing on trivial matters. Itโs deeply unfortunate, and I mourn for my country. The real disaster we face is the incompetence and shortsightedness of our politicians.”, said one other Nigerian.
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