Withdraw social media bill or face lawsuit, SERAP tells NASS

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a strong call to Nigeria's National Assembly to immediately withdraw the proposed Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026. SERAP argues that the bill represents a "backdoor attempt to regulate social media" and expand government control over online expression.

“

Requirements compelling technology companies to establish local offices would increase government leverage over platforms, facilitate political pressure, make censorship demands easier and expose local employees to retaliation.

The organization has warned that it will initiate legal action if the bill is passed in its current form or a substantially similar one. The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, mandates that social media platforms, data controllers, and data processors operating in Nigeria must establish physical offices within the country. Furthermore, it empowers the Nigeria Data Protection Commission with the authority to shut down or prohibit the operations of any entity that fails to comply within 30 days.

“

The Bill would create sweeping powers capable of shutting down or excluding social media platforms from the Nigerian market and expose millions of Nigerians to serious violations of their constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, SERAP stated that the proposed amendment poses a significant threat to constitutionally guaranteed rights. The organization contends that requiring technology companies to establish local offices would increase governmental leverage over these platforms, making them more susceptible to political pressure and censorship demands. It also raises concerns about exposing local employees to retaliation.

“

The current Bill revives substantially similar proposals previously introduced by Senator Nwoko, raising renewed concerns that localisation requirements are being used as a vehicle for expanding governmental control over digital platforms and online expression.

SERAP further elaborated that the bill would grant sweeping powers capable of excluding social media platforms from the Nigerian market, potentially exposing millions of Nigerians to serious violations of their fundamental human rights. The organization highlighted that the bill revives previous proposals to regulate social media that had previously faced widespread public opposition. SERAP views these localization requirements as a vehicle for expanding governmental control over digital platforms and online expression, warning that legal challenges will follow if the bill becomes law.

“

Should the Bill be enacted into law in its current or substantially similar form, SERAP shall promptly take all appropriate legal actions to challenge its legality in the public interest and to ensure that Nigerians’ fundamental rights are fully protected.