Nigeria’s Senate moved forward on Thursday with legislation that would require global social media platforms, including Meta, Google and X, to establish physical offices in the country, after stakeholders voiced broad support at a public hearing in Abuja.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko of Delta North, would amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023 to mandate that social media companies operating in Nigeria maintain a physical presence within the country’s territorial boundaries.
The hearing was organized by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Cyber Security.
Nwoko cited Ireland, where operations by Meta, Google, LinkedIn, TikTok and X have helped build one of Europe’s leading technology hubs through jobs, investment and closer engagement with regulators. He argued Nigeria, as Africa’s largest digital market, should see similar benefits rather than being sidelined.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru, described the bill as forward-looking and said it was not intended to restrict the operations of technology firms but to promote accountability and stronger engagement with the Nigerian government.
Committee chairman Shuaib Salisu said the legislation was designed to strengthen protection of Nigeria’s cyberspace.
The hearing also addressed a separate bill, sponsored by Senator Yemi Adaramodu of Ekiti South, to establish an artificial intelligence academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti state, which also received stakeholder backing.
The Senate committee said it would review submissions from stakeholders before presenting its report to the full chamber for further legislative consideration.
