Nigeria has begun consultations on plans to introduce age restrictions for social media use, as Africa’s most populous country joins the global trend of strengthening protections for children in the digital space.

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy this week launched a nationwide survey inviting parents, educators, young people and technology experts to help shape policies aimed at regulating children’s access to social media and other digital platforms.

The consultation comes amid rising concerns over online risks facing Nigerian minors as smartphone ownership and internet usage continue to increase across the country.

Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,  said the government is seeking a balanced approach that protects children while preserving the educational and social benefits of digital access.

“While the internet offers significant opportunities for learning, creativity, and communication, it also exposes children to risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation, misuse of personal data, and emerging challenges linked to artificial intelligence tools,” Tijani said.

The proposed framework could include age restrictions on social media platforms, stronger age-verification systems, and tougher accountability requirements for technology companies.

“As Nigeria evaluates potential policy approaches for protection of children online, including age restrictions, improved age verification systems, platform accountability measures, and enhanced regulatory oversight, public input is essential,” Tijani added.

The move follows alarming findings from a 2025 study cited by Nigeria’s telecom regulator. According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), nine in ten Nigerian children face at least one form of cyber risk online.

Nigeria’s push reflects a broader global trend as governments tighten online safety rules for minors.

Australia, for instance, implemented a social media ban for children under 16 in December 2025, requiring platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to restrict access. Indonesia has also announced plans to bar under-16s from social media, while France and Denmark are pursuing similar restrictions for users under 15.

Similarly, Nigeria is confident that feedback from the public survey will help shape an evidence-based policy framework aimed at creating a safer digital environment for children.

Nigeria’s non-oil exports rose sharply to N12.36 trillion in 2025, up from N9.09 trillion in 2024, according to the National Bureau of Statistics’ Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics report.

The performance underscores ongoing efforts to diversify the economy away from crude oil, with stronger activity recorded in agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals and other value-added sectors.

The data show that non-oil exports, which stood at N3.14 trillion in 2022 before slipping to N2.56 trillion in 2023, rebounded strongly in 2024 and climbed further in 2025, pointing to a sustained recovery across several industries.

Monthly figures for 2025 indicate relatively steady performance: exports were N1.23 trillion in January, N964.73 billion in February, and N975.45 billion in March. They rose to N1.22 trillion in April, then moderated to N903.02 billion in May and N923.13 billion in June.

In the second half, non-oil exports again firmed up, recording N1.23 trillion in July, N875.62 billion in August and N894.18 billion in September.

October exports stood at N965.60 billion, while November and December closed stronger at N1.07 trillion and N1.11 trillion respectively, reflecting consistent trade activity through most of the year.

A breakdown of the figures shows that mineral products were the top non-oil export earners in 2025. Other major contributors included prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits and tobacco, as well as products of the chemical and allied industries.

Agricultural exports were also significant, with vegetable products valued at N1.54 trillion, while live animals and animal products accounted for N103.4 billion.

Vehicles, aircraft and associated transport equipment generated N1.10 trillion in export earnings, and base metals and metal products contributed N646.16 billion.

Exports of stone, plaster, cement and ceramic products were valued at N369.58 billion, plastics and rubber at N244.17 billion, and machinery, boilers and mechanical appliances at N207.48 billion.

Several smaller categories collectively bolstered overall performance. Raw hides and leather products brought in N48.39 billion, footwear N27.34 billion, paper products N19.60 billion, and textiles N16.55 billion.

Miscellaneous manufactured articles recorded N22.85 billion, optical and measuring instruments N6.69 billion, precious stones N511.8 million, and wood products N636.99 million.

The latest figures, analysts say, highlight the growing role of non-oil exports in Nigeria’s trade profile and the potential for further growth as government policies continue to support production, value addition and market access in non-oil sectors.

Meta, a multinational technology company, has informed advertisers that it will begin applying new location-based fees to certain advertisements delivered in six selected jurisdictions starting July 1, 2026, as the company moves to offset costs linked to digital services taxes and other regulatory charges.

In an email sent to advertisers, the company explained that the new charges will apply to ad impressions delivered to audiences in specific countries, regardless of where the advertiser’s business is based.

“Meta will soon apply new location fees to ads delivered in specific jurisdictions to cover digital service taxes (DST) and other location-based fees imposed on Meta in those jurisdictions,” the company said in the mail.

According to the notice, the fees will be applied to ads delivered in Austria (5%), France (3%), Italy (3%), Spain (3%), Türkiye (5%), and the United Kingdom (2%).

The company added that these rates and jurisdictions could change over time.

Meta described location fees as additional charges tied to where ads are delivered rather than where the advertiser operates.

“Location fees are additional charges that may apply to ads delivered in selected jurisdictions to cover part of the costs associated with doing business in those jurisdictions,” the company said.

The company noted that the charges will be calculated after ads are delivered and will not be deducted from campaign budgets.

Meta gave an example in the email: if an advertiser spends $100 on ads delivered in Italy, where the location fee is 3%, the final cost would be $103, excluding any applicable value-added tax.

Explaining the reason for the change, the company pointed to regulatory developments affecting technology platforms.

“The cost of delivering ads in specific jurisdictions is changing due to the evolving regulatory landscape, including digital services tax legislation. Until now, Meta has covered these additional costs,” the company said.

The company added that the move aligns with broader industry practices, noting that other digital platforms may introduce similar charges linked to digital service taxes.

Meta said the location fees will apply to all ad formats, including image and video ads, as well as campaigns such as WhatsApp click-to-message ads that are billed together with advertising.

The fees will appear on invoices with clear descriptions by jurisdiction, such as “Italy digital services,” the company said, adding that taxes like VAT will still be applied on top of the total amount.

Advertisers were advised to review the affected ad accounts and share the update with their finance, procurement and marketing teams to prepare for the changes.