A bill mandating social media companies to open physical offices in Nigeria has passed its second reading in the Senate, proposed by Senator Ned Nwoko. The bill aims to address engagement challenges and economic opportunities for the country, reflecting Nigeria’s significant role in global social media usage.
A recent bill proposed in Nigeria mandates social media companies to establish physical offices within the country’s territorial boundaries. This bill, which has successfully scaled its second reading in the Senate, was introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) during a plenary session. The bill aims to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023, addressing the engagement challenges faced by these platforms in Nigeria.
Senator Nwoko highlighted the critical need for this legislation, stating that while Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, it also exhibits remarkable digital engagement. With a population exceeding 220 million, social media has become intrinsic to the daily lives of many Nigerians. The Global Web Index, as reported by Business Insider Africa, indicates that Nigerians are the highest users of social media in Africa and hold the second spot globally, averaging nearly four hours daily online.
The lawmaker emphasized the current absence of social media giant offices as a significant obstacle, leading to challenges such as limited local representation and missed economic opportunities. The proposed legislation aims to counter these issues by requiring not only social media platforms but also bloggers operating in Nigeria to establish verifiable offices in the country’s capital cities.
The passage of the bill requiring social media companies to open offices in Nigeria underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing local representation and addressing engagement challenges. With Nigeria’s status as a leader in social media usage, this initiative has the potential to unlock numerous economic opportunities while fostering closer ties between global platforms and the Nigerian populace.
Original Source: www.nigeriainfo.fm
