(SINL NIGERIA) The Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity on Thursday held a public hearing on two strategic legislative bills aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital governance framework and advancing artificial intelligence education.
Declaring the session open, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio said the engagement underscored the Senate’s commitment to inclusive lawmaking, democratic participation and evidence-based policymaking.
The public hearing considered:
A Bill for an Act to alter the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, to mandate social media platforms operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices within the country’s territorial boundaries and for related matters (SB 648); and A Bill for an Act to establish the Artificial Intelligence Academy, in Ekiti state.
Addressing stakeholders, Akpabio, who spoke through the Deputy Senate leader, Senator Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South) described public hearings as an essential avenue for citizens, experts and institutions to contribute meaningfully to the legislative process.
On the proposed amendment to the Nigerian Data Protection Act, Akpabio noted that while social media platforms have transformed communication, commerce, governance and public discourse, they have also created significant challenges relating to data protection, privacy, consumer rights, accountability and national security.
He explained that requiring social media companies operating in Nigeria to maintain physical offices in the country would strengthen regulatory oversight, improve responsiveness to lawful requests and public complaints, enhance transparency, encourage compliance with Nigerian laws and stimulate economic growth through local investment and job creation.
Specifically, Akpabio stressed that the proposed amendment is not intended to undermine freedom of expression or restrict the operations of social media platforms, saying the bill seeks to ensure greater accountability, improve consumer protection and align Nigeria’s digital governance framework with global best practices while promoting innovation.
Speaking on the proposed Artificial Intelligence Academy, in Ekiti state, the Senate President described artificial intelligence as a critical driver of innovation, good governance and economic competitiveness.
He said the proposed academy would serve as a centre of excellence for AI education, research and capacity development, producing highly skilled Nigerian professionals capable of driving innovation across sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, finance and security.
According to him, the institution would also support Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading player in Africa’s digital and knowledge economy while promoting balanced educational development outside the country’s major urban centres.
He reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to enacting laws that safeguard Nigeria’s national interest, strengthen digital governance, promote technological innovation and accelerate sustainable economic growth.
On his part, the sponsor of the bill seeking amendment to the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2023, that would require social media platforms operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country, Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North) said the bill was aimed at strengthening regulation, creating jobs, improving data protection and ensuring global technology companies contribute more directly to Nigeria’s economy.
Senator Nwoko noted that while major technology companies generate enormous revenue from Nigeria’s large digital market, many have no physical presence in the country, pay limited taxes locally and create few direct employment opportunities.
He said “Nigeria is the biggest digital market in Africa, yet many of these companies have no offices here. They owe little obligation to Nigerians, employ very few people directly and contribute far less than they should to our economy,”
He argued that requiring companies to establish local offices would create employment opportunities for engineers, lawyers, technology professionals and other skilled workers while facilitating technology transfer and boosting local capacity.
According to him, countries such as South Africa, the United Kingdom, India and Ireland already host physical offices of major global technology firms, demonstrating that the requirement is consistent with international practice.
The lawmaker also stressed the importance of local presence in addressing national security concerns, citing recent reports that kidnappers used TikTok to make ransom demands.
He maintained that companies with offices in Nigeria would be more responsive to lawful requests from authorities and better positioned to cooperate in addressing criminal activities conducted through their platforms.
On data privacy, he expressed concern that Nigerians’ personal data are largely stored and managed outside the country, arguing that the absence of local offices limits accountability.
He insisted that the bill is not intended to restrict freedom of expression, adding
“There is freedom of speech in the United Kingdom, India, Turkey and many other countries where these companies maintain physical offices. This bill is not about limiting free speech but about ensuring accountability, protecting Nigerians’ data and encouraging investment,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with companies such as MTN and DStv, which maintain operations in Nigeria, the lawmaker said their local presence has generated employment, tax revenue and broader economic benefits that would otherwise not exist.
Similarly, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC Ekiti South), who sponsored the second bill defended the proposed establishment of a Federal University of Artificial Intelligence, in Ekiti state, saying Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind in the global technology revolution.
He said the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the world into a global village, making it imperative for Nigeria to invest in specialised institutions dedicated to AI research, innovation and human capital development.
He argued that countries such as the United States, India and Israel have already established institutions focused exclusively on artificial intelligence, stressing that Nigeria should follow suit to remain globally competitive.
According to him, creating a university dedicated to AI is no different from establishing specialised universities of agriculture, technology or environmental sciences, noting that such institutions enable countries to concentrate resources and expertise in strategic sectors.
The senator said Nigeria’s youthful population, with more than half of its citizens under the age of 35, provides a strong foundation for AI-driven innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth.
He noted that artificial intelligence has applications across governance, business, healthcare, robotics, industrial development and information technology, adding that investment in AI education would equip Nigerian youths with the skills required for the future economy.
