NBA, Others Oppose Bill Requiring Social Media Platforms To Open Offices In Nigeria

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) and several civil society organisations have opposed a bill seeking to compel social media platforms and bloggers operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices with verifiable addresses in the country.

The groups raised their concerns on Thursday during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, arguing that the proposed legislation could discourage investment and force some digital platforms to withdraw their services from Nigeria.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North), passed second reading in the Senate in March 2025 before it was referred to the committee for further legislative scrutiny.

While some stakeholders warned that the proposal could lead to the shutdown or exit of some social media companies, others backed the bill, saying it would create jobs, encourage technology transfer and improve corporate accountability.

Critics of the bill also argued that the proposed 30-day compliance period is unrealistic and should be extended.

Representing the President-elect of the NBA, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, Mercy Agada urged the Senate to amend the bill by requiring social media companies to appoint local representatives rather than compelling them to establish physical offices.

She also recommended extending the compliance deadline from 30 days to at least 180 days and called for further technical drafting to ensure the law does not impose unnecessary regulatory burdens on digital platforms and their users.

Although the NBA supported aspects of the bill relating to improved data protection compliance, it urged lawmakers to withdraw the legislation for further review.

Similarly, NIRA’s Chief Operating Officer, Seyi Onasanya, said compelling companies to establish physical offices alone would not guarantee accountability.

She suggested that the bill should also require social media platforms to host their data within Nigeria or under Nigeria’s jurisdiction, arguing that local data hosting would strengthen regulatory oversight.

In contrast, the Chairman of the Practitioners of Content Creating, Influencers and Skit Makers Guild of Nigeria, Obinna Nwanfo, endorsed the proposal.

According to him, many social media platforms operate policies that are unfavourable to Nigerian content creators, making it difficult to resolve complaints, particularly those involving account restrictions and loss of followers.

Other organisations that participated in the hearing included Paradigm Initiative, the Nigerian Youths of Social Media Analysts, Digital Civic, the Middle Belt Youth Congress and the Nigerian Female Youth Organisation.

Defending the bill, Senator Nwoko insisted that the proposal is not intended to punish or discourage social media companies from operating in Nigeria.

He said the objective is to encourage global technology firms to establish a stronger corporate presence in the country, arguing that many nations require such companies to maintain physical offices.

Nwoko cited countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Brazil, Australia and Japan, where major technology firms operate regional headquarters, engineering centres and other offices.

According to him, those countries have benefited through increased employment, tax revenue, improved regulatory engagement, innovation and technology transfer.

He added that Ireland has become a major technology hub because companies such as Meta, Google, LinkedIn, TikTok and X maintain significant operations there, employing thousands of workers and contributing to the country’s economy.

The lawmaker argued that Nigeria, with Africa’s largest digital market and population, should also position itself to attract similar investments and economic benefits by requiring social media platforms to establish a physical presence in the country.