Pic: Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the National Assembly to withdraw the Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, describing it as a backdoor attempt to regulate social media and expand government control over online expression.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North), seeks to compel social media platforms, data controllers and data processors operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country.
It also empowers the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to prohibit the operations of non-compliant platforms after 30 days.
In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, SERAP warned that it would challenge the legislation in court if passed in its current form.
The organisation argued that the proposed law could undermine freedom of expression, restrict access to information, and expose digital platforms to political pressure and censorship.
SERAP also maintained that the bill could negatively affect Nigeria’s digital economy by increasing compliance costs for technology companies and discouraging innovation and investment.
It called on lawmakers to reject the bill, insisting that any regulation of digital platforms must comply with the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights standards.
Tags: SERAP, National Assembly, Social Media Bill, Nigeria
