BAVCCA to present Digital content practitioners bill to NASS

The Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association of Nigeria (BAVCCA) has said it would submit a Digital Content Practitioners (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2025 to the National Assembly for consideration. The organisation said the bill will seek to mandate all bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, social media influencers, and online journalists to register with a National Digital […]

The Bloggers and Vloggers, Content Creators Association of Nigeria (BAVCCA) has said it would submit a Digital Content Practitioners (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2025 to the National Assembly for consideration.

The organisation said the bill will seek to mandate all bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, social media influencers, and online journalists to register with a National Digital Content Registry.

It said this in a statement signed by its National President, BAVCCA, Ikechukwu Chukwunyere and National Secretary, Tabuko Kennedy during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun in Abuja.

The organisation noted that the spread of falsehoods was not a bloggers-only problem but a national security threat that demands collective action.

The statement said: “Annual licensing tied to verifiable identity, ethics training, and compliance with the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, and NUJ Code of Ethics.

“Criminal penalties for unregistered operators who publish content that incites violence, spreads health disinformation, or undermines national security.

“This bill is not about censorship, it is about accountability, traceability, and professionalism in Nigeria’s digital space,” the statement said.

It added: “BAVCCA pledges full support to law enforcement. Under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, any person—member or non-member—who knowingly spreads false information that endangers public safety will face arrest and prosecution. We shall submit a list of 47 repeat offenders to the Nigeria Police Cybercrime Unit.

“Starting 1 January 2026, BAVCCA will offer nationwide free workshops (physical and virtual) on spotting deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and responsible content creation. Certification will be required for registration under the new bill.”

Egbetokun lamented the devastating impact of misinformation, saying it has become a silent time bomb.

The police chief noted that a single false post was capable of causing chaos faster than a bullet can travel.

The IGP said: “Misinformation has become a silent bomb; it does not destroy buildings; it destroys trust. A single false post can cause chaos faster than a bullet can travel.”