A bill mandating social media companies to establish offices in Nigeria has advanced in the Senate, introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko. The legislation aims to address the lack of local representation and economic opportunities in the digital sector, reinforcing Nigeria’s significant social media presence.
A recent legislative proposal has progressed to the second reading in the Nigerian Senate, aiming to compel social media companies to establish physical offices within Nigeria. The bill, introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta), seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, addressing crucial gaps in the engagement practices of multinational social media platforms with the country.
Senator Nwoko emphasized that Nigeria, recognized as Africa’s most populous nation, plays a significant role in digital interactions, with over 220 million residents actively participating in social media. He referenced data from the Global Web Index, citing that Nigerians lead Africa and rank second globally concerning daily social media usage, averaging nearly four hours a day online.
The senator articulated that the current lack of physical offices for social media companies in Nigeria creates substantial hurdles, including inadequate local representation. Furthermore, he noted that the absence of these offices has led to missed economic opportunities, hindering Nigeria’s potential benefits from the thriving digital economy. The proposed legislation also requires all bloggers operating within Nigeria to establish a verifiable office in various capital cities of the nation.
The Senate’s deliberation on the bill marks a significant step towards enhancing the operational presence of social media companies in Nigeria. By mandating physical offices, the legislation aims to improve local engagement and capitalize on Nigeria’s vibrant digital economy. Additionally, the inclusion of bloggers under this requirement may further foster accountability and representation in the digital landscape.
Original Source: www.nigeriainfo.fm
