“Using Children In Skits Could Land Creators 14 Years In Jail”- Lagos Government Warns

• The Lagos State Government warns content creators against involving children in online materials that violate child protection laws.
• A joint statement was issued by Mobolaji Ogunlende (Commissioner for Youth and Social Development) and Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi (Executive Secretary of LSDSVA).
• There is growing concern about the trend of featuring children in content that endangers their safety and dignity.

The Lagos State Government has issued a warning to content creators and digital media producers about involving children in online materials that breach child protection laws.

In a joint statement released on Monday, Mobolaji Ogunlende, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, and Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (LSDSVA), expressed serious concern over the growing trend of featuring children in content that compromises their safety and dignity.

The statement highlighted an alarming pattern of minors appearing in videos, skits, and other digital productions that subject them to ridicule, harm, or exploitation under the guise of entertainment and online engagement.

Officials emphasized that children should never be treated as props. Any portrayal that places them in degrading or dangerous situations is not merely poor judgment it constitutes a criminal act.

“Content creators must consider the lasting psychological, emotional, and social effects such content can have on children, as well as the legal consequences for those responsible for producing or sharing it,” the statement warned.

The Lagos State Government referenced several laws that explicitly protect minors, including the Child’s Rights Law (2015), the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2015), and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act (2015).

According to these laws, producing, distributing, or profiting from content that sexualizes, harms, or endangers children is a serious offense. Specific provisions criminalize exploitative child labor, physical and emotional abuse, sexual offenses against minors, child pornography, cyberstalking, and online harassment.

The statement also pointed out that Section 32 of the Child’s Rights Law carries a penalty of up to 14 years’ imprisonment for anyone found guilty of sexually abusing or exploiting a child.

The government made it clear that there would be no exceptions, regardless of an individual’s online popularity or following. Ignorance of the law would not be accepted as an excuse.

“We reaffirm Lagos State Government’s zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of child abuse and remain committed to ensuring responsible content creation that safeguards children from harm,” the statement concluded.