Stakeholders have backed a Senate bill seeking to require social media platforms operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country.
The proposal received overwhelming support on Thursday during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security on a bill sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North).
The bill, titled A Bill for an Act to Alter 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 Other Related Matters, aims to strengthen regulatory oversight and enhance digital governance.
Stakeholders also endorsed a separate bill sponsored by Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South) seeking the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu (APC, Ogun Central), said the social media bill was designed to safeguard Nigeria’s cyberspace, while the proposed AI academy would serve as a centre of excellence for artificial intelligence education and research.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South), described both bills as forward-looking and nationally significant, saying they reflected the Senate’s commitment to effective lawmaking and good governance.
Akpabio stressed that the proposed legislation was not intended to restrict or undermine social media platforms operating in Nigeria.
Senator Nwoko echoed the position, insisting that the bill was neither punitive nor anti-innovation.
“This bill is neither punitive nor hostile to innovation. It is not designed to frustrate investment or discourage technology companies from operating in Nigeria.
“On the contrary, it seeks to deepen their engagement with Nigeria by encouraging them to become true corporate citizens of our country,” he said.
Nwoko argued that many countries, including those with smaller populations and digital markets than Nigeria, require global technology companies to maintain local offices.
He cited the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Singapore, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Brazil, Australia and Japan as examples of countries hosting regional headquarters and operational hubs for major technology firms.
According to him, companies such as Meta and Google operate multiple offices in several countries, handling engineering, artificial intelligence research, regulatory compliance, public policy, advertising, customer support and product development.
He noted that these countries had benefited from increased employment, higher tax revenues, stronger regulatory engagement, technology transfer and expanded innovation ecosystems.
Using Ireland as an example, Nwoko said the presence of companies including Meta, Google, LinkedIn, TikTok and X had transformed the country into one of Europe’s leading technology hubs, creating thousands of jobs and attracting further foreign investment.
He questioned why Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest digital market, had yet to secure similar investments.
