A Senate bill seeking to make major social media platforms keep physical offices in Nigeria has moved into public-hearing scrutiny, with lawyers and internet governance groups warning lawmakers against a rigid rule that could burden platforms and users.
The proposal, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko of Delta North, would amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act to require social media companies operating in Nigeria to maintain verifiable local offices. Punch reported that the hearing also considered a separate bill for an Artificial Intelligence Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Premium Times reported that the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Internet Registration Association and other groups raised concerns at Thursday’s hearing by the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security. Their objections focused on the physical-office requirement and a proposed 30-day compliance period.
The NBA advised lawmakers to consider a requirement for local representatives instead of compulsory physical offices, and to extend the timeline to at least 180 days. NIRA also argued that local data-hosting rules would do more for accountability than office addresses alone.
Supporters of the proposal said a stronger local presence could create jobs, improve complaint handling and make global platforms more accountable to Nigerian users. Content creators at the hearing argued that account restrictions and other platform decisions are often difficult to challenge from Nigeria.
Nwoko defended the bill as a way to deepen the presence of large technology companies in Africa’s biggest digital market, rather than to drive them away.
Sources: Punch, Premium Times
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