The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) has urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to restrict the Federal Government’s free daily internet data for students to approved educational platforms.
NATCOMS President, Mr Deolu Ogunbanjo, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
Ogunbanjo welcomed the initiative, which will provide 100 megabytes (MB) of free daily internet data to five million students, describing it as a positive step towards improving access to digital learning resources.
He, however, called for safeguards to prevent students from using the allocation to access inappropriate online content.
According to him, the 100MB daily data should be configured to work specifically on approved educational websites and platforms, including digital libraries and e-learning resources.
He said the measure would help ensure that the initiative achieved its intended objective while reducing students’ exposure to harmful online content.
Ogunbanjo expressed concern that unrestricted access could expose young people to inappropriate materials and encourage misuse of the allocated data.
He cited the sharing of explicit images among children and other unsafe online activities as examples of the risks associated with unrestricted internet access.
The NATCOMS president urged the NCC to establish adequate safeguards to ensure that the data was used strictly for educational purposes. He said this would also give parents greater confidence in the initiative and its objectives.
Ogunbanjo welcomed the reported partnership between the NCC and the Ministry of Education, describing it as a “win-win” arrangement for students.
Regarding the initial target of five million beneficiaries, he acknowledged that the figure might not include all students who could benefit from the program.
He, however, advised the government to assess the initiative’s effectiveness before expanding its coverage.
The NATCOMS president suggested that the number of beneficiaries could be increased in subsequent years based on the program’s performance and utilization levels.
“Let’s give them a chance. They are just about to start the implementation of the initiative,” he said.
Ogunbanjo commended the Federal Government and the NCC for initiating the program, expressing hope that it would eventually reach more students across the country.
NAN reports that the Federal Government’s free students’ data initiative is scheduled to commence on Oct. 1.
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