Senate is pushing legislation that would compel global social media platforms including Facebook and TikTok to establish physical offices in the country.
The proposal, which seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023, received broad support during a public hearing on Thursday organised by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Cyber Security.
Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, the bill aims to strengthen regulatory oversight and encourage deeper engagement by tech firms in Africa’s largest digital market. A separate bill to establish an Artificial Intelligence Academy in Ekiti State was also considered.
Committee chairman Senator Shuaib Salisu said the measures were designed to bolster Nigeria’s digital economy and technological advancement. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented at the hearing, described the bills as strategic for national development, stressing that the office requirement was intended to improve accountability rather than hinder operations.
Nwoko rejected claims that the legislation was anti-investment. “This Bill is neither punitive nor hostile to innovation. It is not designed to frustrate investment or discourage technology companies from operating in Nigeria,” he said. “Rather, it seeks to deepen their engagement with Nigeria by encouraging them to become true corporate citizens of our country.”
He pointed to countries such as the United Kingdom, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Brazil, which have attracted regional hubs of major tech firms, generating jobs, tax revenue and technology transfer.
The committee is expected to review stakeholder submissions before presenting its recommendations to the full Senate.
