The Senate has advanced to the second reading a bill aimed at amending the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to mandate social media platforms to establish physical offices within the country.
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),” the bill is sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North).
Leading the debate, Senator Nwoko emphasized Nigeria’s prominent digital presence, noting that with over 220 million people, the country ranks first in Africa and second globally in social media usage, spending an average of three hours and 46 minutes daily online, according to a Global Web Index report cited by Business Insider Africa.
He pointed out that despite this high engagement, major social media platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat lack physical offices in Nigeria.
He identified several issues arising from this, including inadequate local representation, economic losses, and difficulties in legal and data protection compliance.
The bill also introduces regulations for bloggers in Nigeria, requiring them to:
- Establish a verifiable office in any state capital.
- Maintain proper employee records.
- Be affiliated with a recognized national association of bloggers, headquartered in Abuja.
Senator Nwoko stated that these measures aim to ensure accountability, transparency, and professionalism in Nigeria’s digital media sector, similar to traditional media organizations.
He clarified that the bill is not an attack on social media platforms but a call for fairness and recognition of Nigeria’s global digital influence.
Commenting on the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the importance of requiring social media companies to have a physical presence in Nigeria but expressed the need for further scrutiny regarding the regulation of bloggers.
“It’s good to have an address, but bloggers are slightly different,” Akpabio remarked, adding that the bill should proceed to a public hearing for further clarification.
He reassured that the bill is not intended to stifle social media but to establish a framework for taxation and record-keeping for digital platforms operating in Nigeria.
The bill has been forwarded to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, which is expected to report back in two months.
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