The Nigerian Senate has advanced a bill aimed at compelling global social media companies, including Facebook (Meta), TikTok, and others, to establish physical offices in the country.
Stakeholders gave overwhelming support to the proposal during a public hearing held in Abuja on Thursday.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
It would mandate social media platforms operating in Nigeria to maintain physical offices within the country’s borders.
The public hearing, organised by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Cyber Security, also considered a separate bill proposing the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, sponsored by Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South). Both bills received broad backing.
Declaring the hearing open, the committee chairman, Senator Shuaib Salisu (Ogun Central), stated that the measures aim to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and advance technological development.
The social media bill focuses on better
