A bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to mandate social media platforms to establish physical offices in the country has passed its second reading in the Senate.
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),” it was sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (APC, Delta North).
Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, instructing it to report back in two months.
During his lead debate, Senator Nwoko emphasised that Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation with over 220 million people, has a strong digital presence, ranking first in Africa and second globally in social media usage. Citing a Global Web Index report via Business Insider Africa, he noted that Nigerians spend an average of three hours and 46 minutes online daily.
Despite this engagement, platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat lack physical offices in Nigeria, unlike in other countries.
He outlined challenges stemming from this, such as limited local representation, economic losses, and difficulties in legal and data protection compliance.
The bill also proposes new rules for bloggers, requiring them to have a verifiable office in any capital city, maintain employee records, and join a recognised national bloggers’ association headquartered in Abuja.
Senator Nwoko stressed that this aims to ensure accountability, transparency, and professionalism in digital media, akin to traditional media. He insisted the bill is not an attack on social media platforms but a call for fairness and recognition of Nigeria’s role as a global digital leader.
