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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Technology

Senate backs bill to compel Facebook, TikTok, others open offices in Nigeria

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Nigerian Senate is advancing a bill to compel social media companies to establish physical offices in the country.
  • A public hearing overwhelmingly supported this proposal and a separate bill for an Artificial Intelligence Academy.
  • Proponents argue the social media bill aims to increase accountability and engagement, not stifle operations.

Nigeria's Senate is moving forward with legislative efforts to require global social media companies to establish physical offices within the country. This push, discussed during a public hearing in Abuja, aims to enhance regulation and accountability for platforms operating in Nigeria.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023. It mandates that social media companies operating in Nigeria must maintain a physical presence within the nation's borders. The hearing also saw broad support for a separate bill to establish an Artificial Intelligence Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

This bill is neither punitive nor hostile to innovation. It is not designed to frustrate investment or discourage technology companies from operating in Nigeria.

— Senator Ned NwokoSenator Ned Nwoko defending the bill requiring social media companies to establish local offices.

Senator Shuaib Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Cyber Security, stated that both bills are designed to bolster Nigeria's digital economy and technological advancement. He clarified that the social media bill's intent is to improve cyberspace regulation and protection, while the AI Academy aims to be a center of excellence for AI education and innovation.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate Leader Senator Lola Ashiru, described the proposals as forward-looking and nationally significant. Akpabio emphasized that the bill requiring local offices is not meant to hinder social media operations but to foster greater accountability and engagement. Senator Nwoko further defended the bill, dismissing concerns about discouraging investment. He argued that many countries with smaller markets have successfully attracted global tech firms, and Nigeria seeks deeper engagement by encouraging companies to become "true corporate citizens."

On the contrary, it seeks to deepen their engagement with Nigeria by encouraging them to become true corporate citizens of our country.

— Senator Ned NwokoSenator Ned Nwoko explaining the intended outcome of the social media bill.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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