The Senate has advanced a bill seeking to compel major social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, to establish physical offices in Nigeria as lawmakers push for stronger regulation of the country’s digital space.
The proposal received attention during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Cyber Security on Thursday.
Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, the bill seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, by requiring social media companies operating in Nigeria to maintain offices within the country.
At the same hearing, lawmakers also expressed broad support for a separate bill sponsored by Senator Yemi Adaramodu to establish an Artificial Intelligence Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Committee Chairman Senator Shuaib Salisu said both bills are designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy, improve cyberspace regulation and promote artificial intelligence education, research and innovation, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the proposals as nationally significant.
