Senate advances bill mandating social media platforms, bloggers to have offices in Nigeria

The senate has advanced a bill requiring international social media platforms to establish physical offices within the country.

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Ned Nwoko, senator representing Delta north, scaled second reading on Tuesday.

The bill seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, to enforce compliance among social media companies operating within Nigeria’s borders.

The bill also seeks to regulate bloggers, mandating them to establish verifiable offices in any state capital.

The legislation proposes that bloggers keep proper employee records and be part of a harmonised national body with its headquarters in Abuja.

He argued that, like traditional media houses, bloggers should be properly registered and regulated to uphold professionalism and transparency.

“The bill is not an attack on this platforms, it is a call for equity and fairness,” Nwoko said.

“It’s a demand for respect and admission of Nigeria’s status as a global leader in digital engagements.

“In furtherance of our commitment to a structured and attractable digital space, this bill also mandates all bloggers operating in Nigeria to have an office that is verifiable in any of the capital cities across the country.

“They must keep proper records of their employees and belong to harmonised national bodies which shall has its headquarters in Abuja.

“We cannot continue to have a situation where individuals operate anonymously, spreading false information – mostly false – without any structure or accountability.

“Just like traditional media houses, bloggers must be properly registered and regulated to ensure professionalism, transparency and responsibility in their operations”.

If passed into law, the bill would introduce stricter oversight of Nigeria’s digital space, ensuring what the senator described as “a fair and just” online environment.