Nigeria Senate Moves to Regulate Social Media, Bloggers with New Office Requirement

The Nigerian Senate has passed the second reading of a bill requiring social media platforms and bloggers to establish physical offices in Nigeria. Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, the bill aims to enhance accountability, ensure data protection compliance, and prevent economic losses. It now moves to the ICT Committee for review.

The Nigerian Senate has progressed a bill mandating social media platforms and bloggers to establish physical offices within the country. The proposed amendment to the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, aims to improve digital accountability and ensure legal compliance for online platforms operating in Nigeria.

Senator Nwoko emphasized Nigeria’s significant digital footprint, ranking first in Africa for social media usage. He argued that despite high engagement, global platforms like Facebook, X, and TikTok lack local representation, leading to economic losses and legal challenges. The bill also proposes regulations for bloggers, requiring them to have verifiable offices, employee records, and membership in a recognized national association.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio supported the move but stressed the need for careful regulation, particularly regarding bloggers. He assured that the bill is not intended to stifle online expression but to create a structured framework for taxation, record-keeping, and digital oversight. The proposal has been referred to the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security for further review.