Akpabio denies charge as Senate moves to ‘regulate bloggers, social media organisations’, in apparent social media gagging

The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step toward regulating social media platforms by debating a bill that mandates them to establish physical offices within the country.

The bill also proposes a mandatory registration system for bloggers operating in Nigeria by requiring them to maintain a verifiable office in any Nigerian capital city, belong to a recognised national association with headquarters in Abuja, and keep clear records and data of their employees.

The proposed legislation, 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 (SB. 648),” was sponsored by Sen. Ned Munir Nwoko (Delta North) and seconded by Sen. Eze Kenneth (Ebonyi Central).

Leading debate on the general principles of the bill in plenary on Tuesday – today, March 17 – Nwoko said, “We cannot continue to have a situation where individuals operate anonymously, spreading information—sometimes false—without any accountability.

“Just like traditional media houses, bloggers must be properly registered and regulated,” Nwoko said.

He argued that the absence of local offices for major social media companies hinders effective regulation, economic benefits, and legal redress for Nigerian users.

“Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and one of the most active in digital engagement. Social media has become an essential part of our politics, economy, and society. It is only fair that these multinational companies establish a physical presence here,” he said.

According to Nwoko, some of the challenges arising from the lack of local offices include limited local representation, missed economic opportunities, and legal and regulatory difficulties.

The senator further noted that without offices in Nigeria, social media companies struggle to address regulatory concerns, content moderation, and user complaints effectively. In addition, he pointed out that Nigeria loses potential jobs in areas such as customer service, content moderation, and legal compliance.

Another concern raised by Sen. Nwoko is non-enforcement of data protection laws and difficulty in dispute resolution because the companies do not have a verifiable local presence.

He compared social media companies to multinational corporations such as MTN, Shell, Chevron, and Nestlé, which have established offices in Nigeria where Nigeria are employed, thereby creating jobs and supporting the economy.

Following a voice vote in favour of the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided in plenary, announced its passage for a second reading.

The bill was then referred to the Senate Committee on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Cyber Security for further deliberation and a public hearing, with a report expected within two months.

Commenting on the bill, Sen. Akpabio clarified that the bill was not aimed at gagging social media but at ensuring digital businesses contribute to Nigeria’s economy through taxation.

“The world has gone digital. We recognise the need for ICT businesses to have a physical address, but bloggers can work from anywhere. This is about tax, not censorship.

“When we’re going for public hearing, people should be invited for their views. I don’t want the world to misunderstand us that the Senate wants to gag social media, it is about tax. For the purpose of tax, this is a good bill,” Akpabio said.