The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step toward amending the Nigerian Data Protection Act of 2023, with a new bill aimed at compelling major social media platforms to establish physical offices within the country.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, Mandating the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms, and for Related Matters, 2025,” was introduced by Senator Ned Nwoko of Delta State and passed for its first reading on Tuesday.
If enacted, the legislation would require platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and other independent bloggers to set up offices in Nigeria.
Key Provisions of the Bill
Mandatory Physical Offices: Social media giants must establish local offices in Nigeria to facilitate engagement with users and businesses.
Blogger Regulation: Independent bloggers operating in Nigeria would be required to have verifiable offices in any state capital, maintain proper employee records, and be members of a recognised association based in Abuja.
Reasons Behind the Proposal
During the Senate session, Senator Nwoko emphasized Nigeria’s massive digital presence, citing a report from the Global Web Index via Business Insider Africa. With a population exceeding 200 million, Nigeria ranks second globally in social media engagement.
Nwoko argued that the absence of local offices for these digital platforms creates regulatory challenges, limits local representation, and makes direct engagement difficult for Nigerian users and businesses.
Senate Reactions and Next Steps
Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the potential benefits of requiring social media platforms to establish local offices, particularly in enhancing regulatory oversight and compliance.
However, Akpabio urged caution regarding the regulation of bloggers, stressing the need to protect online expression.
“It’s beneficial to have an address, but bloggers are a bit different. The best approach is for the bill to go for a second reading, followed by a public hearing to provide more clarity,” Akpabio stated.
He further clarified that the bill is not intended to suppress social media but rather to improve taxation and record-keeping for digital platforms operating in Nigeria.
The Senate has directed its Committee on ICT and Cyber Security to conduct a thorough review of the bill and report back within two months.
You said:
Firearms recovered as police arrest six suspected kidnappers in Edo.
The Edo State Police Command on Tuesday said it had arrested six suspected kidnappers with cash suspected to be proceeds from kidnapping activities.
The command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, in a statement on Tuesday, also said some arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects in the last 48 hours.
He disclosed that the arrests and recoveries were made in several places in Edo North which has experienced violent kidnappings and killings in the last three weeks.
The statement read that “On 16/03/2024 at about 04:30hrs, operatives of the Agbede Police Division alongside vigilante personnel, while on stop and search in Aviele along Abumere by power line, intercepted and arrested three suspects Jamilu Idris (20 years) Usman Shuaibu (24 years) and Yahuza Usman (20 years).
“One English-made Beretta pistol, one dagger, and an Infinix phone were recovered from the suspects after they were searched.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are part of a syndicate responsible for kidnaping and armed robbery, including snatching of motorcycles in that area of the state.
“Investigation continues with a view to arresting other members of the syndicate.”
The statement continues, “On 16/03/2025 at about 22:10hrs, operatives of the Auchi Division, in collaboration with the vigilante on a routine stop and search at the UBA junction Auchi, intercepted two young men.
“The young men who took to their heels on sighting the police were given a hot chase, and one Adamu Usman of the Hausa Quarters was arrested while his accomplice escaped.
“An on-the-spot search led to the recovery of N1,345,100 believed to be proceeds of kidnapping. Also recovered were five micro SIM cards, one machete, one dagger, two phones and a pack of cigarettes.
“During preliminary investigation, two additional suspects, Iliyasu Abubakar (19 years) and Safiyanu Mohammed (20 years) were arrested, while one of the SIM cards was discovered to belong to one Ajibola Sunday of Igbirra camp in Auchi.
“When Ajibola Sunday was contacted and invited to the station, he identified the suspect as being part of the eight-man gang that kidnapped him and his mother-in-law on 11/03/2025 and their relations had to part with the sum of N10m to secure their release.”
Yamu said the Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, assured the public of the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, and to bringing perpetrators of crime to justice. rephase
ChatGPT said:
Police Arrest Six Suspected Kidnappers, Recover Firearms in Edo
The Edo State Police Command has apprehended six suspected kidnappers and recovered cash believed to be proceeds from their criminal activities.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, confirmed the arrests and the seizure of arms and ammunition over the past 48 hours.
According to Yamu, the operations were carried out in Edo North, a region that has recently witnessed a surge in violent kidnappings and killings.
Details of the Arrests and Recoveries
On March 16, 2024, at approximately 04:30 AM, officers from the Agbede Police Division, in collaboration with local vigilantes, conducted a stop-and-search operation at Aviele, along Abumere by Power Line.
During the operation, three suspects were arrested:
Jamilu Idris (20 years)
Usman Shuaibu (24 years)
Yahuza Usman (20 years)
A search of the suspects led to the recovery of:
One English-made Beretta pistol
One dagger
An Infinix phone
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were part of a syndicate involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, and motorcycle theft in the region.
The police also made another breakthrough on March 16, 2025, at around 10:10 PM, when officers from the Auchi Division, in partnership with local vigilantes, intercepted two young men at UBA Junction, Auchi.
Upon sighting the police, the suspects attempted to flee but were pursued. One of them, identified as Adamu Usman, a resident of Hausa Quarters, was apprehended, while his accomplice escaped.
An on-the-spot search led to the recovery of:
₦1,345,100 suspected to be ransom money
Five micro SIM cards
One machete
One dagger
Two mobile phones
A pack of cigarettes
Further investigations led to the arrest of two additional suspects:
Iliyasu Abubakar (19 years)
Safiyanu Mohammed (20 years)
One of the SIM cards recovered was traced to Ajibola Sunday, a resident of Igbirra Camp in Auchi. Upon being invited to the station, Sunday identified the suspects as members of the eight-man gang that kidnapped him and his mother-in-law on March 11, 2025. Their relatives had to pay a ransom of ₦10 million for their release.
Police Assure Public of Continued Efforts
The Commissioner of Police, Betty Otimenyin, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property while bringing criminals to justice. She assured residents that security forces would intensify efforts to dismantle kidnapping syndicates in the state.
