A bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to mandate social media platforms to establish physical offices within the country has advanced to the second reading in the Senate.
The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within Nigeria by Social Media Platforms, and for Related Matters, 2025 (SB. 650),” was introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North.
During Tuesday’s plenary, Nwoko emphasized Nigeria’s significant online presence, noting that with over 220 million citizens, the country leads Africa in social media usage and ranks second globally.
Citing a Global Web Index report referenced by Business Insider Africa, he revealed that Nigerians spend an average of three hours and 46 minutes daily on social media.
Despite this high level of engagement, he highlighted that leading platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat do not have physical offices in Nigeria, unlike in other nations.
Nwoko identified several challenges arising from this absence, including limited local representation, economic disadvantages, and difficulties in enforcing legal and data protection regulations.
The bill also proposes new requirements for bloggers, obliging them to establish a verifiable office in any state capital, maintain proper employee records, and affiliate with a national blogging association headquartered in Abuja.
According to Nwoko, these provisions aim to enhance accountability, transparency, and professionalism in Nigeria’s digital landscape, aligning it with traditional media standards.
Clarifying the bill’s intent, he stressed that it is not designed to stifle social media but to ensure Nigeria receives due recognition and economic benefits in the digital space.
Reacting to the proposal, Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the importance of having a local presence for digital platforms but suggested a thorough review of the blogger regulations.
“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 more clarity,” Akpabio stated.
Reassuring that the bill is not intended to curb social media activity, he added, “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.”
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, which is expected to present its findings in two months.
