Senate Bill Mandates Physical Offices for Social Media Companies in Nigeria

A bill mandating social media companies to set up offices in Nigeria has passed its second Senate reading. Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, the bill addresses the need for local representation and economic opportunities while requiring bloggers to establish offices in capital cities. This legislation aims to strengthen Nigeria’s engagement with multinational social media platforms.

A proposed legislation mandating social media companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria has successfully passed its second reading in the Senate. This development occurred during a plenary session on Tuesday, with Senator Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta), the bill’s sponsor, leading the debate.

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023,” aims to compel social media platforms to have local representation within Nigeria’s borders. Senator Nwoko articulated that this initiative is critical to improving engagement between these multinational entities and Nigeria.

Senator Nwoko highlighted Nigeria’s position as both Africa’s most populous nation and a leader in digital interaction. Citing the Global Web Index via Business Insider Africa, he noted that Nigerians are the most engaged users in Africa, with an average daily online presence of three hours and 46 minutes.

The senator further elaborated on the challenges stemming from the absence of physical offices for these platforms, indicating that it hinders local representation and results in lost economic opportunities. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that all bloggers operating within Nigeria must establish verifiable offices in any of the nation’s capital cities, enhancing accountability in the digital space.

In summary, the bill requiring social media companies to establish offices in Nigeria is a significant step toward improving digital engagement and representation. With Nigeria’s standing as a leader in social media usage, this legislation seeks to rectify ongoing issues stemming from the lack of local presence and enhance the economic landscape for the nation. Additionally, the requirement for bloggers to maintain offices signals a move towards greater responsibility in the digital arena.

Original Source: www.nigeriainfo.fm