The Nigerian Senate has passed, for second reading, a bill mandating social media companies to establish physical and verifiable offices within the country.

The bill also proposes that bloggers operating in Nigeria must maintain proper employee records and be registered under a recognised association.

Additionally, the Senate has constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the alleged annexation of maritime territories, mangrove islands, and villages of the Effiat clan in Akwa Ibom State by neighbouring Cameroon.

Titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023,” the proposed legislation (SB.648) seeks to ensure that digital businesses contribute to Nigeria’s economy. The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), was referred to the Senate Committee on Information, Communication Technology (ICT) and Cyber Security for further review, with a report expected in two months.

Defending the bill, Nwoko argued that social media platforms generate significant revenue from Nigerian users but have failed to establish a physical presence in the country, unlike in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and India.

“Nigeria ranks first in Africa and second globally in terms of daily social media usage, with an average of three hours and 46 minutes spent online,” Nwoko noted. “Despite this, social media giants do not have offices in Nigeria, depriving us of economic opportunities, job creation, and legal oversight.”

The bill aims to bridge this gap by requiring social media platforms to have offices in Nigeria to ensure compliance with data protection laws, dispute resolution mechanisms, and revenue contributions.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified that the bill is not designed to regulate social media content but to enhance Nigeria’s digital economy.