By The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the National Assembly to reject a bill amending the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023, which seeks to regulate bloggers and mandate physical offices for social media platforms operating in the country.
In a letter dated April 12, 2025, signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, SERAP described the proposal as an indirect attempt to reintroduce the controversial social media bill.
SERAP warned that the bill could be used to ban major platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and TikTok, if they fail to establish offices in Nigeria within 30 days. It said such a move would violate fundamental rights, chill free expression, and censor dissenting voices.
The bill, which has already passed first and second readings in the Senate, also proposes forcing bloggers to register with national associations, which SERAP argues infringes on the right to freedom of association.
“If the National Assembly and its leadership do not withdraw this bill, and should President Bola Tinubu assent to it, SERAP will consider legal action to challenge its constitutionality,” the organisation stated.
The group also warned that the bill threatens to drive out international tech companies, damage digital business operations, and block Nigerians’ access to global tools and platforms.
SERAP insists lawmakers must act to protect rights—not restrict them, urging the Assembly to drop the bill and uphold Nigerians’ freedom of expression, both online and offline.
