Global social media platforms operating in Nigeria including Meta (owners of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) and TikTok may soon be legally required to open physical offices within the country following widespread support for a new legislative proposal advancing in the Senate.
The requirement forms part of a bill to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North). The proposed law seeks to strengthen regulatory oversight, protect user data, increase local tax contributions, and deepen engagement with Africa’s largest digital economy.
The proposal received strong backing during a public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Cyber Security, chaired by Senator Shuaib Salisu (Ogun Central). At the same hearing, lawmakers also considered a second bill sponsored by Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South) to establish a specialized Artificial Intelligence (AI) Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Representing Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate Leader, Lola Ashiru (Kwara South) emphasized that requiring global digital platforms to set up local operations is not meant to restrict their services, but to foster operational accountability and foster true partnership with the host country.
This Bill is neither punitive nor hostile to innovation. It is not designed to frustrate investment or discourage technology companies from operating in Nigeria. Rather, it seeks to deepen their engagement with Nigeria by encouraging them to become true corporate citizens of our country.
Senator Ned Nwoko.
Nwoko highlighted international precedents in nations such as the United Kingdom, India, South Africa, Brazil, the UAE, and Singapore, where regional technology hubs generate local employment, tax revenue, direct technological transfer, and improved trust and safety operations.
Key objectives of the proposed legislation include:
Corporate Citizenship: Mandating global digital entities to maintain local physical presences for legal, regulatory, and public policy compliance.
Economic Growth: Stimulating local employment, expanding the domestic tax base, and driving investments in regional engineering and AI research hubs.
Strengthened Oversight: Enhancing the enforcement of data privacy, content moderation, trust and safety, and customer support standards for Nigerian consumers.
Tech Capacity Building: Complementing the proposed AI Academy in Ekiti State to position Nigeria as a regional leader in emerging technologies.
Following the successful public hearing, the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security will review formal memoranda submitted by industry stakeholders and submit its final report to the full Senate for further legislative action.
