The Nigerian Senate has passed the second reading of a bill that mandates international social media platforms, including TikTok, Meta (Facebook, Instagram), X (formerly Twitter), and others, to establish physical offices within the country.
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),” was sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, also includes provisions for bloggers to set up verifiable offices in any state capital, maintain proper employee records, and join a recognised national association of bloggers headquartered in Abuja.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation and ranks second globally in social media usage, with users spending an average of three hours and 46 minutes online daily, according to a Global Web Index report cited by Business Insider Africa. Despite this heavy digital presence, major social media companies have not established physical offices in Nigeria, unlike in other countries such as Kenya, South Africa, India, the United States, and the UK. During the plenary on Tuesday, Senator Nwoko pointed out that the absence of these offices has led to challenges like limited local representation, economic losses, and difficulties in legal and data protection compliance.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, noted that while having a local address for digital platforms is beneficial, the regulation of bloggers requires careful consideration.
“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,” Akpabio added, clarifying that the bill is not meant to gag social media or restrict freedom of expression. Instead, it focuses on ensuring that digital businesses contribute to the country’s economy and operate with accountability.
Following its passage through the second reading, the bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Cyber Security for further deliberation and a public hearing. The committee is expected to report back within two months.
