The Senate has passed a bill through its second reading to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, mandating social media platforms to establish physical offices within Nigeria.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), seeks to ensure that multinational social media corporations such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat set up local offices to enhance accountability and compliance with Nigerian laws.
Leading the debate, Nwoko stressed that despite Nigeria’s vast digital presence, multinational social media companies do not maintain physical offices in the country, unlike in other nations. He said the absence of local representation results in economic losses and challenges with legal and data protection compliance.
The bill also proposes new regulations for bloggers, requiring them to establish verifiable offices in any of the country’s capital cities, maintain proper employee records, and belong to a recognized national association of bloggers, headquartered in Abuja.
Nwoko argued that the measure is not intended to stifle social media but to promote accountability and transparency, similar to traditional media standards.
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Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the benefits of having physical offices for digital platforms but cautioned that regulating bloggers requires careful consideration. He stated that the bill should not be seen as an attempt to gag social media but as a framework for appropriate taxation and record-keeping.
“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 much more streamlined clarity,” Akpabio said.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, with a report expected in two months.
