Stakeholders Back Nwoko’s Bill to Mandate Nigerian Offices for Social Media Giants

The Senate has commenced legislative action to compel major global social media and technology companies operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country, a move aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight, enhancing data protection, improving national security, and creating employment opportunities.

The proposed amendment to the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North), received widespread support from stakeholders during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Cyber Security.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, said the bill is not intended to suppress free speech or censor social media platforms. Rather, he explained, it seeks to ensure that global technology companies operating in Nigeria comply with the country’s laws, respond promptly to lawful requests, and better protect the digital rights of Nigerians.

According to Ashiru, Nigeria deserves the same level of corporate commitment from multinational technology firms as other major economies where they maintain operational offices.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Salisu, noted that the proposed legislation would strengthen Nigeria’s digital governance framework and improve the country’s cybersecurity architecture.

Defending the bill, Senator Nwoko argued that Nigeria remains Africa’s largest digital market, yet multinational technology companies continue to generate substantial revenue from Nigerian users without establishing offices, paying adequate taxes, creating local jobs, or facilitating technology transfer.

He maintained that the legislation is not designed to discourage innovation but to ensure that global digital companies contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic growth and technological development.

“Nigeria should not continue to be treated merely as a market,” Nwoko said, adding that countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, Singapore, South Africa, Brazil, Japan, Spain, Australia and the United Arab Emirates all host operational offices of leading technology companies, including Meta, Google, TikTok, LinkedIn and X.

The senator also linked the absence of local offices to national security concerns, citing a recent kidnapping case in Oyo State in which suspects allegedly communicated through TikTok. He argued that local offices would facilitate quicker engagement between security agencies and digital platforms during criminal investigations.

The bill seeks to mandate global technology firms with significant operations in Nigeria to establish physical offices within the country to improve regulatory compliance, strengthen data protection, enhance accountability, create employment opportunities, increase tax contributions, and encourage technology transfer.

Meanwhile, stakeholders at the public hearing also endorsed a separate bill sponsored by Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), seeking the establishment of a National Artificial Intelligence Academy in Omuo-Ekiti to drive research, innovation, capacity building and skills development in artificial intelligence.

The proposed legislation is expected to undergo further legislative consideration before being transmitted for presidential assent if eventually passed by the National Assembly.