The Senate on Thursday advanced legislative efforts to compel global social media companies operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country, as stakeholders expressed broad support for the proposal at a public hearing in Abuja.
The hearing, organised by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Cyber Security, also received widespread backing for a separate bill seeking to establish an Artificial Intelligence Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The proposed social media legislation, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 to require social media companies operating in Nigeria to maintain physical offices within the country.
The Artificial Intelligence Academy Bill is sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South).
Declaring the hearing open, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Senator Shuaib Salisu (Ogun Central), said the two bills were designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and advance technological development.
He explained that while the social media bill was aimed at improving regulation and protecting Nigeria’s cyberspace, the proposed AI Academy would serve as a centre of excellence for artificial intelligence education, research and innovation.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru (Kwara South), described both proposals as forward-looking and important to Nigeria’s national development.
Akpabio said the proposal requiring social media companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria was not intended to stifle their operations but to promote greater accountability and deeper engagement with the country.
Defending the bill, Nwoko dismissed concerns that the proposed legislation could discourage investment or target global technology companies.
“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.
“On the contrary, it seeks to deepen their engagement with Nigeria by encouraging them to become true corporate citizens of our country.”
Nwoko argued that several countries with smaller populations and digital markets than Nigeria had successfully attracted global technology companies to establish local operations.
He cited countries including the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Spain, Singapore, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Brazil, Australia and Japan as examples.
According to him, local offices operated by major technology companies support activities 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.
Nwoko maintained that attracting such investments had enabled countries to create employment, increase tax revenues, improve regulatory engagement, promote innovation and facilitate technology transfer.
Citing Ireland as an example, the senator said the presence of companies such as Meta, Google, LinkedIn, TikTok and X had helped transform the country into one of Europe’s leading technology hubs through job creation, innovation and increased foreign investment.
He argued that Nigeria, as Africa’s largest digital market, should also benefit from similar economic and technological opportunities.
“The question therefore is simple: if countries with significantly smaller populations and digital markets than Nigeria have secured these investments and benefits, why should Nigeria continue to stand on the sidelines? Why should Africa’s largest digital market not enjoy the same opportunities?” he asked.
The Senate committee is expected to review memoranda submitted by stakeholders before presenting its report to the Senate for further legislative consideration.
