The Senate has taken a significant step toward compelling social media giants to establish physical offices in Nigeria, passing a bill through its second reading.
The legislation aims to strengthen regulatory oversight and ensure these platforms contribute to the country’s economic and legal framework.
The bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, was introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North).
He highlighted that, despite Nigeria’s vast online presence—with over 220 million people and a high rate of social media engagement—global platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat do not have operational offices within the country.
Citing a Global Web Index report, Nwoko stated that Nigerians spend nearly four hours daily on social media, ranking the nation first in Africa and second globally in terms of usage. He argued that the absence of these platforms in Nigeria results in financial losses, regulatory challenges, and difficulties in enforcing data protection laws.
Beyond social media companies, the bill also proposes new rules for bloggers, mandating them to; Set up a registered office in any state capital, keep a record of employees, and be affiliated with a recognised national bloggers’ association based in Abuja.
READ ALSO:Â Senate Moves to Amend Electoral Act Ahead of 2027 Elections
Nwoko explained that these measures are designed to improve professionalism, accountability, and transparency in Nigeria’s digital media landscape, similar to the requirements placed on traditional media organisations.
Addressing concerns that the bill could be perceived as a move to suppress free expression, he clarified that its goal is to ensure fair economic contributions from digital businesses benefiting from Nigeria’s large user base.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while acknowledging the bill’s merits, expressed reservations about its implications for bloggers.
“It’s good to have an address, but bloggers are slightly different,” Akpabio said. “I think the best thing is for the bill to go for a second reading and subsequently public hearing for much more streamlined clarity.”
He further reassured that the legislation is not intended to restrict online expression but to introduce a framework for taxation and compliance.
“I was looking to see if it intends to gag bloggers, but I haven’t seen that, so we wait for it to get to the stage of public hearing,” he added.
The bill has now been forwarded to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security for further scrutiny, with a report expected in two months.