A Senate bill requires social media companies to set up physical offices in Nigeria, addressing local engagement and economic losses. It emphasizes Nigeria’s leading role in social media usage in Africa and proposes that bloggers also establish offices in capital cities.
A proposed bill aimed at requiring social media companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria has progressed through its second reading in the Senate. The legislation was introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) during a session on Tuesday. Titled “A Bill for an Act to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023,” it addresses the lack of local representation and engagement by multinational social media firms in Nigeria.
Senator Nwoko highlighted that the bill originally passed its first reading on November 21, 2024. He emphasized Nigeria’s significant status as not only the most populous nation in Africa but also a leader in digital connectivity, with over 220 million citizens actively engaging with social media. According to the Global Web Index data reported by Business Insider Africa, Nigerians spend an average of three hours and 46 minutes daily on social media, ranking first in Africa and second globally for usage.
The Senator pointed out that the absence of local offices poses considerable challenges, such as inadequate representation and economic opportunities lost for the nation. He noted that this legislation aims to mitigate these issues by ensuring that social media companies operate more formally within Nigeria. Additionally, the bill mandates that all bloggers in Nigeria must establish a verifiable office in capital cities across the country.
The bill introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko seeks to ensure that social media companies establish local offices in Nigeria, addressing the challenges of limited representation and lost economic prospects. Given Nigeria’s vast online user base, the enforcement of this bill could enhance local engagements and opportunities. Additionally, it proposes that bloggers establish verifiable offices to promote accountability and local presence.
Original Source: www.nigeriainfo.fm
