Senate Fixes July 22 Public Hearing on Bill Seeking Physical Offices for Social Media Platforms in Nigeria
Senate Fixes July 22 Public Hearing on Bill Seeking Physical Offices for Social Media Platforms in Nigeria
Senate Fixes July 22 Public Hearing on Bill Seeking Physical Offices for Social Media Platforms in Nigeria
The Senate has scheduled Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for a public hearing on a bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to require major social media companies operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices within the country.
The sponsor of the bill, Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District and serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation, disclosed the development on Friday.
According to the lawmaker, the public hearing marks another milestone in the legislative process and will provide an opportunity for stakeholders, industry experts, technology companies, civil society organisations, legal practitioners and members of the public to make contributions toward strengthening Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Senator Nwoko noted that Nigeria remains one of the world’s largest and most active digital markets, with millions of citizens relying on social media platforms for communication, business, education, innovation, civic engagement and entertainment.
He observed that while Nigerian users, entrepreneurs and content creators generate enormous value for global digital platforms, the absence of physical offices in the country continues to create challenges for consumers, businesses and regulatory authorities.
According to him, the proposed legislation is not aimed at restricting freedom of expression or interfering with the operations of digital platforms but seeks to ensure that companies generating substantial revenue from Nigeria maintain a reasonable corporate presence and fulfil their responsibilities within the country.
The senator explained that establishing local offices would improve the resolution of user complaints, strengthen engagement with regulatory agencies, enhance compliance with Nigeria’s data protection laws, promote consumer protection and encourage responsible corporate practices.
He further stated that the bill has significant economic potential, noting that local offices would attract investment, create employment opportunities for Nigerian professionals, encourage technology transfer and contribute to the growth of the country’s digital economy and innovation ecosystem.
Senator Nwoko argued that, as Africa’s largest economy and one of the world’s leading digital markets, Nigeria deserves stronger corporate engagement from multinational technology companies, many of which already maintain offices in other countries where they operate.
He called on all stakeholders to participate actively in the public hearing, expressing confidence that the consultation process would produce a balanced legal framework capable of protecting users, encouraging innovation, attracting investment and strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global digital economy.
Senate Fixes July 22 Public Hearing on Bill Seeking Physical Offices for Social Media Platforms in Nigeria
