In a move that could reshape Nigeria’s digital landscape, the Senate has advanced a controversial bill requiring social media platforms and bloggers to set up physical offices within the country.
The proposed legislation, titled SB. 650, aims to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, making it mandatory for global tech giants like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and WhatsApp to establish verifiable offices on Nigerian soil.
Sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (APC, Delta North), the bill successfully passed its second reading and has now been referred to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity for further review.
Why This Bill?
Senator Nwoko emphasized that despite Nigeria’s massive digital footprint—boasting over 220 million citizens and ranking first in Africa and second globally in social media engagement—major tech companies do not have official offices in Nigeria. This, he argues, leads to:
- Limited local representation
- Economic losses
- Challenges in legal and data protection compliance
The bill goes further by targeting bloggers, requiring them to:
- Set up physical offices in any state capital
- Maintain proper employee records
- Register with a recognized national association of bloggers headquartered in Abuja
What’s Next?
Defending the proposal, Nwoko insists this is not an attack on free speech but rather a push for accountability, transparency, and professionalism—holding digital media to the same standards as traditional media houses.
With mixed reactions already brewing online, the question remains: Will this bill strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy, or stifle online freedom?
