BY JOE OGBODU
A bill sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta North) aimed at amending the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 towards the regulation of social media platforms operating in the country, has passed its second reading at the Nigerian Senate.
The bill christened “An Act to Alter the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, LFN, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms, and for Related Matters, 2024”, which was read for the first time on Thursday, November 21, 2024, when passed into law would mandates social media platforms, data controllers, and data processors to establish physical offices within Nigeria’s territorial boundaries.
The bill’s primary objective is to address the challenges posed by the absence of local offices for social media giants in Nigeria.
Leading the debate on the proposal which he described as “not only of national importance but is also central to Nigeria’s sovereignty, economy, and technological development”, on Tuesday, Senator Ned Nwoko, said that the Bill seeks to correct a glaring omission in how multinational social media companies engage with our country.
Senator Nwoko emphasized the importance of social media platforms having a physical presence in Nigeria, citing the country’s user base and the value generated from Nigerian participation.
He said that the challenges posed by absence of physical offices of the social media giants include limited local representation, missed economic opportunities, and difficulties in enforcing data protection laws.
“Our dear nation, Nigeria, is not just the most populous country in Africa; we are also one of the most active when it comes to digital engagement. With over 220 million people, social media has become an essential part of our daily lives.”
Quoting the Global Web Index as reported by Business Insider Africa, Senator Nwoko posited that Nigerians rank first in Africa and second globally in terms of daily social media usage, spending an average of 3 hours and 46 minutes online.
“Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat have become indispensable to millions of our people”, he said.
According to him, despite the enormous user base and the value generated from Nigerian participation, these multinational corporations have no physical offices in Nigeria, adding that this stands in sharp contrast to their presence in other countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Singapore, and Australia, where they maintain offices to address regional concerns, manage content policies, and build partnerships.
He noted that multinational corporations like MTN, Shell, Chevron, Nestlé, and Total have thrived in Nigeria by establishing local offices, creating jobs, and enriching the workforce through training and partnerships.
He, however, lamented that the absence of physical offices has deprived the nation of numerous opportunities pointing out that economically, it denies Nigeria the benefits of job creation in areas such as customer service, content moderation, legal compliance, and marketing.
“Imagine the thousands of young Nigerians who could be employed by these companies, gaining valuable skills and contributing to our economy. Technology transfer is another area where Nigeria stands to benefit immensely. Countries like China and South Korea became leaders in electronics and automobile manufacturing by fostering local partnerships with foreign firms and adapting their technologies.
“If these social media giants establish a local presence, Nigerian engineers, developers, and tech professionals will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the world and adapt cutting-edge technologies, he reiterated.
While saying that the bill, is not an attack on the platforms, he said “it is a call for equity and fairness. It is a demand for respect and recognition of Nigeria’s status as a global leader in digital engagement”.
