IBY
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Senate on Tuesday debated a bill sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (Delta North), titled A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023. The bill seeks to make it mandatory for social media platforms and bloggers operating in Nigeria to establish a verifiable physical presence in the country.
The bill, which passed its second reading, aims to regulate digital platforms, enhance technology transfer, and ensure compliance with local tax and data protection laws.
While presenting the bill, Senator Nwoko argued that Nigeria stands to benefit immensely if global tech giants such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Google establish offices in the country. He cited examples of China and South Korea, which leveraged technology transfer from foreign firms to develop their own industries.
“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 adopt cutting-edge technologies,” Nwoko said.
He further emphasized that without a physical presence in Nigeria, enforcing data protection laws, resolving disputes, and safeguarding user rights becomes a complex process. “This bill seeks to simplify this by ensuring these platforms comply with our laws and respond to the unique needs of Nigerian businesses,” he added.
The bill also mandates all bloggers operating in Nigeria to have verifiable offices in capital cities and belong to registered professional bodies, with a central headquarters in Abuja. According to Nwoko, this would introduce accountability into the digital media space, ensuring transparency and responsibility akin to traditional media houses.
Supporting the bill, Senator Kenneth Eze (Ebonyi Central) noted that many multinational tech firms that previously had offices in Nigeria, such as Microsoft, have shut them down, leading to job losses and revenue leakages. He highlighted the need for regulation to prevent tax evasion and economic sabotage.
“There are so many revenues being generated online today, yet there are no checks and balances. The Senate must take this issue seriously to ensure Nigeria benefits from the booming digital economy,” Eze stated.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while presiding over the debate, clarified that the bill was not an attempt to stifle social media but rather to ensure compliance with tax and regulatory laws. He noted that while major ICT companies have identifiable offices, many bloggers operate anonymously from anywhere, making accountability difficult.
“The general idea of this bill is to provide a framework for oversight. A public hearing will be held where stakeholders can make inputs before its final passage,” Akpabio assured.
The bill has now advanced to the committee stage, where it will undergo further scrutiny and stakeholder engagement before potential passage into law.
