Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to content creators, influencers, and digital media producers against using children in online content that violates child protection laws, stating that offenders could face criminal sanctions.
The warning, issued on Monday in a joint statement by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, and the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, comes amid rising concerns over the portrayal of minors in harmful or exploitative digital content.
Children, the government stressed, are a legally protected class under Nigerian law and must not be exposed to content that undermines their dignity, safety, or psychological wellbeing.
“Involving minors in content that depicts abuse, sexual themes, harmful stereotypes, or unsafe scenarios is not only unethical but also contrary to existing laws designed to protect children,” the statement said.
The government further clarified that any individual who creates, distributes, or profits from content that sexualises, exploits, or endangers minors is committing a criminal offence. “Under Nigerian law, creating, distributing, or profiting from content that sexualises, abuses, or endangers minors constitutes a criminal offence,” the statement added.
Sections 25(1) and 26 of the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law (2015) prohibit exploitative child labour and all forms of child abuse, while Sections 135–139 and 141 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015) address sexual offences against children. The statement also cited Section 23 of the Cybercrimes Act (2015), which criminalises child pornography and related online offences, alongside Section 24, which prohibits cyberstalking and online harassment.
Section 32 of the Child’s Rights Act prescribes a penalty of up to 14 years’ imprisonment for sexual abuse or exploitation of a child.
Reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy, the government said: “We will continue to engage relevant stakeholders and take necessary action to address violations of child protection laws when they occur.”
