The Nigerian Senate has moved forward with a proposed amendment to the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, which mandates that social media platforms operating within the country establish physical offices. The bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms, and for Related Matters, 2025 (SB. 650), has successfully passed its second reading.
Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), the bill aims to address the absence of local representation by multinational digital corporations, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat.
Senator Nwoko highlighted Nigeria’s strong digital footprint, noting that the country ranks first in Africa and second globally in social media usage, with an average engagement time of three hours and 46 minutes daily. Despite this significant online presence, many social media companies lack a formal corporate presence within Nigeria’s borders.
According to Nwoko, the absence of local offices results in economic disadvantages, legal enforcement challenges, and complications in data protection compliance. The bill seeks to rectify these issues by compelling social media companies to establish offices within Nigeria’s territorial jurisdiction, ensuring better accountability and regulatory adherence.
Beyond major social media corporations, the proposed legislation introduces additional regulations for bloggers operating in Nigeria. The bill mandates that all bloggers must:
– Maintain a verifiable office in any of Nigeria’s capital cities.
– Keep proper employee records.
– Be members of a recognized national association of bloggers headquartered in Abuja.
The senator emphasized that these measures are designed to promote accountability and professionalism in Nigeria’s digital media landscape, aligning bloggers with the standards upheld by traditional media houses.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the potential benefits of requiring social media platforms to maintain a physical presence in Nigeria but urged caution 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 proceed to a public hearing where necessary clarifications can be made,” Akpabio stated.
He further reassured that the legislation is not intended to suppress social media freedoms but rather to create a framework for appropriate taxation, accountability, and regulatory compliance for digital platforms operating in Nigeria.
“I was looking to see if it intends to gag bloggers, but I haven’t seen that. We will wait for the public hearing to gain further insights,” Akpabio added.
Following its successful second reading, the bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security. The committee is expected to conduct further deliberations and present its findings within two months.
If enacted, this legislation will significantly reshape Nigeria’s digital ecosystem by ensuring that global social media companies and digital content creators adhere to regulatory frameworks that enhance transparency and compliance within the country.
