Senate Advances Bill to Compel Meta, X, TikTok, Google, Others to Establish Offices in Nigeria
The Senate has advanced a bill seeking to compel multinational social media platforms, data controllers and digital service providers to establish physical offices in Nigeria or face regulatory sanctions, including possible restrictions on their operations.
The proposed legislation was the focus of a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security on Thursday. The hearing brought together lawmakers, government regulators, industry experts, civil society organisations and technology stakeholders to examine the bill, which seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
Sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko (Delta North), the bill would require global technology companies such as Meta, X, TikTok, Google, YouTube and Snapchat, as well as other digital service providers operating in Nigeria, to establish and maintain operational offices within the country.
Speaking during the hearing, Senator Nwoko said the amendment was aimed at protecting Nigeria’s digital sovereignty, strengthening regulatory oversight, improving data protection, enhancing national security, increasing tax compliance and creating employment opportunities for Nigerians.
According to him, Nigeria is Africa’s largest digital market, yet many global technology companies generate significant revenue from Nigerian users without maintaining a meaningful physical presence in the country.
He argued that the absence of local offices makes it difficult for regulators to enforce data protection laws, resolve consumer complaints promptly and engage effectively with technology companies during criminal investigations.
Under the proposed legislation, affected companies would be required to establish offices within Nigeria’s territorial boundaries. Failure to comply within 30 days after the law comes into effect could attract sanctions, including a prohibition from carrying on business in Nigeria.
The bill also proposes new legal definitions for operators of social media platforms, physical offices, data controllers and data processors, while empowering the Nigeria Data Protection Commission to monitor and enforce compliance.
Declaring the public hearing open on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Deputy Senate Leader described the exercise as an important step towards strengthening Nigeria’s digital regulatory framework in line with global best practices.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, assured stakeholders that the committee would consider all memoranda and recommendations before making its report to the Senate.
He stressed that the committee had approached the assignment with an open mind, noting that public hearings are essential to producing balanced legislation that promotes innovation while safeguarding national interests.
Defending the bill, Senator Nwoko said countries such as Ireland, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates have successfully attracted regional headquarters and operational offices of major technology companies, creating jobs and improving regulatory engagement.
He maintained that requiring multinational technology firms to establish offices in Nigeria would generate employment in engineering, software development, cybersecurity, legal compliance, customer support, public policy and content moderation, while also promoting technology transfer and collaboration with Nigerian startups and universities.
The lawmaker also linked the proposal to national security concerns, arguing that direct engagement with technology companies would enable law enforcement agencies to respond more effectively to cybercrime, terrorism financing, kidnapping, online fraud and other digital offences.
He, however, dismissed concerns that the bill was intended to censor social media users, insisting that it was designed to strengthen corporate accountability rather than restrict freedom of expression.
Following the presentation, the committee received memoranda from government agencies, professional bodies, civil society organisations, digital rights groups and other stakeholders, many of whom expressed varying opinions on the proposal.
The committee has adjourned the public hearing to review all submissions before presenting its report to the Senate.
If passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the legislation would require multinational technology companies operating in Nigeria to establish permanent corporate offices in the country, significantly expanding regulatory oversight while enhancing consumer protection, tax compliance and collaboration with Nigerian authorities.
