The Senate has taken another step towards making global social media companies establish physical offices in Nigeria, as stakeholders expressed support for the proposal during a public hearing in Abuja on Thursday.
The hearing, organised by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Cyber Security, also considered a separate bill seeking to establish an Artificial Intelligence Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The bill on social media companies, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to require platforms operating in Nigeria to maintain offices within the country.
Speaking at the hearing, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Salisu, said both bills were designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and support technological development.
He explained that while the social media bill would improve regulation and accountability in the digital space, the proposed AI Academy would promote education, research and innovation in artificial intelligence.
Representing Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate Leader Senator Lola Ashiru described the bills as important to Nigeria’s future, saying the proposal was not intended to discourage technology companies from operating in the country.
Defending the bill, Nwoko said the proposed law was aimed at encouraging global technology firms to deepen their presence in Nigeria rather than drive them away.
He argued that countries such as the United Kingdom, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Brazil had attracted major technology companies by providing an enabling environment for them to establish local offices.
According to him, these offices create jobs, increase tax revenue, improve regulatory compliance, support innovation and encourage technology transfer.
Nwoko also cited Ireland as an example, saying the presence of companies such as Meta, Google, LinkedIn, TikTok and X had helped transform the country into a major technology hub.
He maintained that Nigeria, with Africa’s largest digital market, should also benefit from similar investments and opportunities.
The Senate committee is expected to review memoranda submitted by stakeholders before presenting its report for further legislative consideration.
