Senate wants Facebook, YouTube, others to open Nigerian offices

Nigerian Senate, on Tuesday, passed for first reading a bill aimed at amending the Nigerian Data Protection Act of 2023.

The amendment seeks to compel major social media platforms—including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and other independent bloggers—to establish physical offices in Nigeria.

The bill is titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, Mandating the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms, and for Related Matters, 2025.”

It was introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko, a lawmaker from Delta State.

Nwoko first presented the bill on November 21, 2024.

The bill not only mandates that the social media platforms set up physical offices in Nigeria, but also seeks to regulate bloggers operating in the country.

It proposes that bloggers must establish verifiable offices in any Nigerian capital city, maintain proper employee records, and join a recognised association based in Abuja.

During the Senate debate, Nwoko highlighted Nigeria’s significant digital presence, referencing a report from Global Web Index shared by Business Insider Africa.

With a population of over 200 million, Nigeria ranks second globally in social media engagement.

Nwoko argued that having local offices is long overdue, noting that the absence of such offices creates challenges, including limited local representation and difficulties for users and businesses to engage directly with these platforms.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, acknowledged the potential benefits of having these social media platforms establish local offices, particularly in terms of improving regulatory oversight and ensuring compliance.

However, Akpabio urged caution regarding the regulation of bloggers, stressing the importance of protecting online expression.

“It’s beneficial to have an address, but bloggers are a bit different. The best approach is for the bill to go for a second reading, followed by a public hearing to provide more clarity,” Akpabio said.

He emphasised that the intent of the bill was not to suppress social media, but rather to improve taxation and record-keeping for digital platforms in Nigeria.

The Senate has also tasked the Committee on ICT and Cyber Security to conduct a thorough review of the bill and report its findings in two months.