Fake news is Nigeria’s biggest online harm — but it’s only one part of a deeper, systemic problem shaping how Nigerians experience the internet.

Gatefield’s State of Online Harms in Nigeria report maps the growing threats in the country’s digital ecosystem, from misinformation and hate speech to online gender-based violence, scams, impersonation, and radicalisation, offering one of the most comprehensive views of what’s at stake. 

As Nigeria’s online population expands, the promise of digital participation is being undermined by a complex mix of disinformation networks, gendered harms,  and gaps in platform accountability.

What we found

Half of Nigerian internet users experience online harms regularly

Half of Nigerian internet users report experiencing online harms occasionally, while smaller but significant percentages encounter them frequently (16%) or rarely (28%). Only 6% say they never experience online harm. This distribution reveals something important: for the vast majority of Nigerian internet users, encountering harmful content isn’t a question of if, but when and how often. Users have learned to live with risk rather than being protected from it, normalizing harm as the price of connectivity. 

High awareness of online harms does not equal safety.

79% of Nigerian internet users recognize online harms exist. Yet that awareness hasn’t translated into protection. Harmful content still spreads, real-world violence still follows, and vulnerable groups still bear disproportionate risks. This gap between knowing and protecting reveals the core problem: awareness alone doesn’t create safety. 

Women and youth face the greatest digital risks

Women account for 58% of reported online harm cases, highlighting the deeply gendered nature of digital threats. Female journalists and politicians, in particular, face coordinated attacks that silence voices and shrink participation. Meanwhile, young people who make up the majority of Nigeria’s online population are constantly exposed to scams, harassment, and radicalisation. Their presence online is both their power and vulnerability.

Nigerians overwhelmingly support regulation but reject censorship

86% of Nigerians agree that clear regulations are essential for online safety but with caveat: protection should not come at the cost of free expression. . Many fear that broad “online safety” laws could be weaponized against journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens expressing dissent. This tension reflects lived experience. Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act – a law designed to curb harm – is being used to stifle criticism and dissent. The challenge isn’t whether to regulate, but who writes the rules, whose interests they serve, and how to prevent abuse while protecting legitimate expression.

What needs to change

Creating safer digital spaces in Nigeria requires coordinated action across three domains: platform accountability, digital literacy, and regulatory reform.

Platform Accountability

Tech platforms must establish operations with local content moderators who understand the country’s languages, cultural context, and political dynamics. Content moderation by people unfamiliar with Nigerian references, humor, and codes inevitably fails. But presence alone isn’t enough. Platforms need enforceable obligations to remove harmful content within specified timeframes, backed by financial penalties significant enough to change behavior.

Education and Digital Literacy 

One of the most effective defenses against online harm is an informed population. Digital literacy should be integrated into school curricula at all levels, teaching school children not only how to use technology, but what business model drives social media, how algorithms decide what to show them, and the general psychological triggers that shape online interactions. Beyond schools, adult education initiatives should cover practical skills like verifying information, recognizing scams, and protecting privacy. A Digital Citizens Charter developed through public consultation should outline users’ rights and responsibilities online, creating a shared framework for accountability without curbing free expression.

Enforcement and Regulatory Reform

Nigeria needs a comprehensive Online Safety legislation that addresses digital-specific harms without becoming a tool for censorship. This law must align with evolving digital harms including A.I. enabled harm.  Existing laws such as the Cybercrimes Act must be clarified to prevent abuse, while ongoing legislative efforts, such as the Child Online Access Protection Bill (2023), targeted at protecting children online, must be fast-tracked.   

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