Block Pornographic Websites in Nigeria, Reps Urge NCC

Block Pornographic Websites in Nigeria, Reps Urge NCC

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The House of Representatives has called on the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to instruct Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to swiftly block all websites that host pornographic and obscene content.

This urgent demand followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Dalhatu Tafoki (APC-Katsina state) during yesterday’s plenary session in Abuja.

Moving the motion earlier, Tafaki said that cyber pornography is fast becoming a global problem and no concrete steps have been taken to curb the phenomenon in the country.

Nigeria, he said, is a religious country and all the major religions in the country have forbidden nudity and obscenity in any form.

According to him, countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle-east have enacted legislations that ban pornography in their domains.

“Renowned psychologists and sociologists around the world have issued stern warnings on the psychological, sociological and mental consequences of viewing pornographic contents.

He elaborated on the immediate impacts of consuming such materials, noting, “It causes deception in marriage, which may later on affect family life. It promotes adultery, prostitution, and many unreal expectations that can result in dangerous promiscuous behavior. It leads to addiction, escalation, desensitization, and acting out sexually by one person as well as change of attitude towards oneself and his family.”

In response, the House urged the NCC to apply the complete rigors of the Nigerian Communications Act and the National Information Technology Development Act against ISPs that fail to comply.

The Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, directed the Committees on Communications and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation and return with a report within four weeks for further legislative action.