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Global social media companies, including Facebook, TikTok and other major digital platforms operating in Nigeria, may soon be required to establish physical offices in the country as the Senate advances a bill aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight and deepening their engagement with Africa’s largest digital market.
The proposal received widespread backing on Thursday during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Cyber Security in Abuja. The committee also considered a separate bill seeking to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The bill on social media platforms, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, by making it mandatory for social media companies operating in Nigeria to maintain physical offices within the country’s territorial boundaries.
The AI Academy bill, sponsored by Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), is designed to promote artificial intelligence education, research and innovation in Nigeria.
Speaking at the hearing, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Salisu (Ogun Central), said both proposals were intended to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and position the country for greater technological advancement.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate Leader Lola Ashiru (Kwara South), described the two bills as strategic initiatives that would support national development.
He explained that requiring social media companies to establish offices in Nigeria was not intended to hinder their operations but to improve accountability, regulatory engagement and their contribution to the country’s economy.
Defending the proposal, Nwoko dismissed suggestions that the legislation was hostile to technology companies or foreign investment.
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“This Bill is neither punitive nor hostile to innovation. It is not designed to frustrate investment or discourage technology companies from operating in Nigeria,” he said.
“Rather, it seeks to deepen their engagement with Nigeria by encouraging them to become true corporate citizens of our country.”
The lawmaker argued that countries such as the United Kingdom, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Brazil and Ireland have benefited from hosting regional offices of global technology firms through increased employment, tax revenues, innovation and technology transfer.
“Around the world, major technology companies have established headquarters, regional offices, engineering centres and operational hubs in countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Singapore, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Brazil, Australia, and Japan,” he said.
“These offices perform diverse functions ranging from engineering and artificial intelligence research to legal and regulatory compliance, public policy, advertising, trust and safety, cloud services, sales, customer support and product development.
“These countries did not attract such investments by accident. They recognised early that the digital economy is now as important as the traditional economy. “By encouraging global technology companies to establish local operations, they have created employment, expanded tax revenues, strengthened regulatory engagement, promoted innovation and encouraged technology transfer to their citizens,” he stated.
He maintained that Nigeria, with one of Africa’s largest digital markets, should not be left behind in attracting similar investments.
Following the public hearing, the Senate committee is expected to review memoranda submitted by stakeholders before presenting its recommendations to the Senate for further legislative consideration.
