The Senate has on Tuesday passed for second reading a Bill which aspires to make it mandatory for social media platforms in the country to own physical offices. The bill also pushes for the registration and regulation of bloggers in Nigeria.
You will recall that this development is coming as a follow up to a first attempt by the Senate to regulate social media in the country.
The first attempt in the ninth Senate could not withstand the wide criticisms and outcry by stakeholders who regarded it as an attempt to gag the media and a breach of Section 39 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to freedom of expression.
The section provides as follows: “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and information without interference.”
The Bill among others proposes that “bloggers must be properly registered and regulated to ensure professionalism, transparency, and responsibility in their operations.”
The Bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, LFN, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms, and for Related Matters, 2024” according to the sponsor, Senator Ned Nwoko (APC – Delta North), “seeks to correct a glaring omission in how multinational social media companies engage with our country.”
Nwoko in his lead debate, said the bill borders on a “matter that is not only of national importance but is also central to Nigeria’s sovereignty, economy, and technological development.”
He further noted that the Bill was read for the first time on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
According to him, Nigeria, is not just the most populous country in Africa; it is also one of the most active when it comes to digital engagement.
He said with over 220 million people, social media has become an essential part of the people’s daily lives.
“According to the Global Web Index as reported by Business Insider Africa, Nigerians rank first in Africa and second globally in terms of daily social media usage, spending an average of 3 hours and 46 minutes online.
“Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat have become indispensable to millions of our people.
“These platforms are not just tools of communication; they are ecosystems that influence our politics, shape public opinion, drive entrepreneurship, and provide avenues for education and entertainment.”
He noted however that irrespective of the enormous user base and the value generated from Nigerian participation, “these multinational corporations have no physical offices in Nigeria.”
He saw this development as one which is in sharp contrast to their presence in other countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Singapore, and Australia, “where they maintain offices to address regional concerns, manage content policies, and build partnerships.”
He said that the absence of physical offices for these social media giants in Nigeria presents major challenges, including: Limited local representation, missed economic opportunities and difficulty in redressal.
He said: “The lack of a local presence creates a disconnect between the platforms and their Nigerian user base. Resolving user complaints, addressing regulatory concerns, or managing content moderation issues specific to Nigeria often takes longer due to the geographical and cultural distance.
“The absence of physical offices has deprived us of numerous opportunities. Economically, it denies Nigeria the benefits of job creation in areas such as customer service, content moderation, legal compliance, and marketing. Imagine the thousands of young Nigerians who could be employed by these companies, gaining valuable skills and contributing to our economy
“Technology transfer is another area where Nigeria stands to benefit immensely. Countries like China and South Korea became leaders in electronics and automobile manufacturing by fostering local partnerships with foreign firms and adapting their technologies.
“If these social media giants establish a local presence, Nigerian engineers, developers, and tech professionals will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the world and adapt cutting-edge technologies.
“The legal implications of their absence are equally concerning. Without physical offices in Nigeria, enforcing data protection laws, resolving disputes, and safeguarding user rights becomes a complex process. This Bill seeks to simplify this process by ensuring that these platforms are physically present to respond to the unique needs of their Nigerian users and comply with our laws.”
He added that the success stories of multinational corporations that have established a presence in Nigeria should serve as an example.
“Companies like MTN, Shell, Chevron, Nestlé, and Total have not only thrived in our market but have also enriched our workforce through job creation, training, and partnerships,’ he said.
“This Bill, therefore, is not an attack on these platforms. It is a call for equity and fairness. It is a demand for respect and recognition of Nigeria’s status as a global leader in digital engagement.
“In furtherance of our commitment to a structured and accountable digital space, this Bill also mandates that all bloggers operating in Nigeria must establish a verifiable office in any of the capital cities across the country.
“They must keep proper records of their employees and belong to a recognized national association of bloggers, which shall have its headquarters in Abuja.
“We cannot continue to have a situation where individuals operate anonymously, spreading information—sometimes 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.”
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in his own remarks, cautioned that it is important for the sponsor of the Bill to ensure that the real intendment of the Bill is not confused with an attempt to gag the media in Nigeria by the Senate.
He however, expressed optimism that the provisions of the Bill would be appropriately dissected by stakeholders during public hearing to ensure that its content does not in anyway impinge on the freedom of expression and the media in the country.
