National Assembly pushes bill requiring social media owners to establish local offices

Nigeria’s Senate is, advancing a bill that mandates tech giants like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok to set up physical offices within the country.

The proposed legislation, officially titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, 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, 2025 (SB. 650),” passed its second reading on Tuesday.

Leading the charge, Senator Ned Nwoko underscored the bill’s importance to Nigeria’s sovereignty, economic interests, and technological development. He pointed out that despite Nigeria’s massive social media presence—ranking as Africa’s largest digital market with over 220 million people.—major platforms operate without a local office, limiting regulatory oversight.

Citing a Global Web Index report, Nwoko noted that Nigerians spend nearly four hours daily on social media, yet these companies enjoy the market benefits without establishing a physical presence as they do in other countries.

The bill, if passed into law, would require global digital platforms to comply with local regulations, potentially increasing job creation, boosting tax revenues, and ensuring that Nigeria has a say in content moderation policies affecting its citizens.

The move has sparked discussions about internet governance, digital rights, and the broader implications for global tech companies operating in Africa’s largest economy.