On Tuesday, March 18, the Nigerian Senate passed for first reading a bill aimed at amending the Nigerian Data Protection Act of 2023, with the goal of compelling major social media platforms and independent bloggers to establish physical offices within Nigeria.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, Mandating the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms, and for Related Matters, 2025,” the bill was introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta State.
The proposed amendment requires platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and other independent bloggers to open offices in Nigeria.
In addition, bloggers operating within the country would be required to establish verifiable offices in any Nigerian capital city, maintain proper employee records, and join a recognised association based in Abuja.
Senator Nwoko, who initially presented the bill on November 21, 2024, pointed out Nigeria’s significant digital presence, referencing a report from Global Web Index shared by Business Insider Africa.
With a population of over 200 million people, Nigeria ranks second globally in terms of social media engagement.
Nwoko argued that requiring social media platforms to have physical offices in Nigeria is long overdue, noting the challenges created by the absence of local representation.
He explained that without physical offices, there are difficulties for users and businesses to engage directly with these platforms, making it harder to enforce regulations and tax the platforms effectively.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the potential benefits of the bill, particularly in terms of improving regulatory oversight and ensuring compliance.
However, Akpabio expressed caution about regulating bloggers, emphasising the need to protect online expression.
“It’s beneficial to have an address, but bloggers are a bit different. The best approach is for the bill to go for a second reading, followed by a public hearing to provide more clarity,” Akpabio said.
While the Senate sees the bill as a step toward improving governance in the digital space, there are concerns about the impact on free expression.
Akpabio stressed that the bill’s intent is not to suppress social media but to improve taxation and record-keeping for digital platforms operating within Nigeria.
The Senate has tasked the Committee on ICT and Cyber Security to conduct a thorough review of the bill and provide a report within two months.
This will include further deliberations on the proposed regulations and their potential effects on the Nigerian digital landscape.
The bill has now been set for a second reading, with a public hearing likely to follow as the Senate continues to examine the implications of such regulatory changes.
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