By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
For a second reading, the Senate passed a bill mandating that social media platforms have physical and verifiable offices within Nigeria.
The bill also proposed that bloggers in Nigeria must have clear records and data on their employees.
It is 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 (SB.648).
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, declared the bill’s passage for a second reading during plenary after most senators supported it through voice votes.
The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Cyber Security for further deliberation and a public hearing.
The committee was directed to report back within two months.
The bill also proposed that bloggers in Nigeria must have clear records and data on their employees.
It was sponsored by Ned Nwoko, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District.
Nwoko led the debate on the bill and argued that it would ensure that digital businesses contribute a certain percentage to Nigeria’s revenue.
He said the bill was not proposed to attack social media platforms but to increase the country’s revenue through the digital space.
The Senator explained that social media platforms’ inability to have identifiable physical offices in Nigeria has led to several challenges.
He listed the challenges as limited representation for resolving user complaints, managing content specific to Nigeria, increasing loss of economic opportunities, employment generation, and legal compliance.
He said, “I rise this day to lead the debate on a matter that is not only of national importance but is also central to Nigeria’s sovereignty, economy, and technological development.
“The Bill before us seeks to correct a glaring omission in how multinational social media companies engage with our country. This Bill was read for the first time on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
“Our dear nation, Nigeria, is not just the most populous country in Africa; we are also one of the most active in digital engagement.
“With over 220 million people, social media has become essential to our daily lives. According to the Global Web Index, as reported by Business Insider Africa, Nigerians rank first in Africa and second globally in terms of daily social media usage, spending an average of three hours and 46 minutes online.
“Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat have become indispensable to millions of our people.
“These platforms are not just communication tools; they are ecosystems that influence our politics, shape public opinion, drive entrepreneurship, and provide avenues for education and entertainment.
“However, despite the enormous user base and the value generated from Nigerian participation, these multinational corporations have no physical offices in Nigeria.
“This stands in sharp contrast to their presence in other countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Singapore, and Australia, where they maintain offices to address regional concerns, manage content policies, and build partnerships.
“The absence of physical offices for these social media giants in Nigeria presents major challenges, including limited local representation,” he said.
He also said that the lack of local presence on social media platforms creates a disconnect between them and their Nigerian user base.
Nwoko said the absence of physical offices has deprived Nigerians of numerous opportunities.
He said, “Economically, it denies Nigeria job creation benefits in areas such as customer service, content moderation, legal compliance, and marketing.
“Imagine the thousands of young Nigerians who could be employed by these companies, gaining valuable skills and contributing to our economy.
“Technology transfer is another area where Nigeria stands to benefit immensely. Countries like China and South Korea became electronics and automobile manufacturing leaders by fostering local partnerships with foreign firms and adapting their technologies.
“If these social media giants establish a local presence, Nigerian engineers, developers, and tech professionals will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the world and adapt cutting-edge technologies.
“The legal implications of their absence are equally concerning. Without physical offices in Nigeria, enforcing data protection laws, resolving disputes, and safeguarding user rights becomes complex.
“This Bill seeks to simplify this process by ensuring that these platforms are physically present to respond to the unique needs of their Nigerian users and comply with our laws.
“This Bill, therefore, is not an attack on these platforms. It is a call for equity and fairness. It demands respect and recognition of Nigeria’s status as a global leader in digital engagement.
“In furtherance of our commitment to a structured and accountable digital space, this Bill also mandates that all bloggers operating in Nigeria must establish a verifiable office in any capital cities across the country.
“They must keep proper records of their employees and belong to a recognized national association of bloggers, which shall have its headquarters in Abuja.
“We cannot continue to have a situation where individuals operate anonymously, spreading information—sometimes false—without structure or accountability.
“Like traditional media houses, bloggers must be appropriately registered and regulated to ensure professionalism, transparency, and responsibility.
Nwoko, therefore, urged called on the lawmakers to support passage of the bill
After its passage, Akpabio said the bill was not an attempt to regulate social media but to increase the country’s revenue.
“The world has gone digital. I’ve taken cognizance of the need for those in the ICT business to have slightly different ICT businesses because they can do their business from anywhere.
“In a public hearing, people should be invited to share their views. I don’t want the world to misunderstand that the Senate wants to gag social media. This is about tax. For tax, this is a good bill,” Akpabio added.
