A bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to require social media platforms and bloggers to establish physical offices in Nigeria has passed its second reading in the Senate.
Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), the bill—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)—aims to improve local representation, accountability, and compliance with data protection laws.
During Tuesday’s plenary, Nwoko highlighted Nigeria’s significant social media presence, noting that the country has over 220 million people and ranks second globally in social media usage, with an average of three hours and 46 minutes spent online daily. Despite this, major platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat do not have physical offices in Nigeria.
He argued that the absence of local offices results in economic losses, limited enforcement of data protection policies, and a lack of direct engagement with Nigerian authorities.
The proposed legislation also seeks to regulate bloggers, requiring them to establish verifiable offices in any state capital, maintain proper employee records, and join a national association of bloggers headquartered in Abuja. Nwoko stated that these measures would enhance transparency and professionalism in the digital space, aligning it with traditional media regulations.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the benefits of requiring social media platforms to have physical offices but called for a careful review of the blogger-related provisions. “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 said.
He reassured that the bill is not intended to suppress social media but rather to ensure proper taxation and record-keeping. “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,” he added.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security for further review, with a report expected in two months.
