By Gwurld4026 
Bloggers’ Office Mandate Bill Passes Second Reading
On March 18, 2025, the Nigerian Senate passed the second reading of a bill mandating social media platforms and bloggers to establish physical offices within Nigeria. Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), the bill seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to require social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat to maintain physical offices within Nigeria.
For bloggers, the bill proposes that they must:
- Establish verifiable offices in any of the country’s capital cities.
- Maintain proper employee records.
- Belong to a recognized national association of bloggers, headquartered in Abuja.
Senator Nwoko emphasized that Nigeria, with over 220 million people, has a significant digital presence, ranking first in Africa and second globally in social media usage. Despite this, many multinational social media corporations lack physical offices in Nigeria, leading to challenges such as limited local representation, economic losses, and difficulties in legal and data protection compliance.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified that the bill aims to ensure appropriate taxation and record-keeping for digital platforms operating in Nigeria, rather than to stifle social media. He acknowledged the benefits of having local addresses for digital platforms but noted that regulating bloggers requires careful consideration.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Cyber Security for further deliberation and a public hearing, with a report expected within two months.