- Safiu Kehinde
The House of Representatives has ordered immediate blockage of all pornographic sites in the country.
The green chamber gave the directive to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) during it plenary session on Tuesday.
It also charged the Commission to compel all internet service providers to block all such contents with immediate effect.
The resolution was adopted after an All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmaker from Katsina State, Dalhatu Tafoki, had sponsored the motion.
While raising the motion, Tafoki argued that cyber pornography was becoming a global problem.
Describing Nigeria as a “highly religious country” where major faiths preach against and prohibit nudity and obscenity, the lawmaker stated that inadequate steps have been taken to address it.
He added that that several countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East had enacted laws banning pornography.
According to him, psychologists and sociologists had warned against the negative impact of pornography which include adultery, prostitution and addiction.
“I write to move a motion for the need to block internet websites from posting pornographic contents on social and internet service providers. The House note that cyber pornography is fast becoming a global problem, and no concrete steps are being taken to curb the phenomenon of cyber pornography in Nigeria.
“Aware that Nigeria is a highly religious country, and all the major religions have prohibited nudity and obscenity in any form. Also note that countries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have enacted legislation that ban pornography in their domain.
“Aware that renown psychologists and sociologists around the world have issued stern warning on the psychological, sociological, and mental consequences of viewing pornographic contents.
“Some of the immediate effect of viewing pornographic contents include causing deception in marriage which may later on affect family life; promoting adultery, prostitution, and many others that can result in dangerous, promiscuous behaviour; leading to addiction, escalation, desensitization, and acting asexually; change of attitude towards self and family.” Tafoki said.
The Katsina lawmaker further called on the NCC to direct all internet service providers in the country to take immediate steps in blocking all porngraphic contents.
He also urged the NCC to apply the provision of its Act as well as the National Information Teechnology Deveopment (NITD) Act in punishing defaulting internet service providers.
“One, urge the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to direct the internet service providers operating in the country to take immediate steps to block all websites that post obscene and pornographic contents.
“Two, also urged NCC to apply the full rigors of the Nigerian Communication Act and National Information Technology Development Act against the defaulting internet service providers.
“And finally mandate the Committee of Communications and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation and report within four weeks for further legislative action.
Reacting, Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives subjected the motion to a voice vote where the lawmakers voted in support of it.
The Speaker referred the motion to the Committee of Communication and Information for further legislative action.