The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill through its second reading to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, requiring social media companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria.
Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), the bill seeks to ensure that multinational social media platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat, set up offices in the country to enhance compliance with Nigerian laws and improve accountability.
Leading the debate, Nwoko emphasized:
“Despite Nigeria’s vast digital presence, multinational social media companies do not maintain physical offices in the country, unlike in other nations.”
He pointed out that the lack of local representation contributes to economic losses and difficulties in enforcing legal and data protection regulations.
Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for bloggers, mandating that they:
- Establish verifiable offices in any of Nigeria’s capital cities
- Maintain proper employee records
- Be members of a recognized national association of bloggers headquartered in Abuja
Clarifying the intent of the legislation, Nwoko stated:
“This measure is not intended to stifle social media but to promote accountability and transparency, similar to traditional media standards.”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the necessity of requiring digital platforms to maintain local offices but expressed reservations regarding the regulation of bloggers.
“It’s good to have an address, but bloggers are slightly different. I think the best thing is for the bill to go for a second reading and subsequently a public hearing for much more streamlined clarity,” Akpabio said.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, which is expected to submit its report within two months.
