April 13, (THEWILL) – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the leadership of the National Assembly to withdraw a controversial bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, warning that it could usher in a new era of repression and censorship.
In a letter dated April 12, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to immediately withdraw the proposed legislation, which it described as a thinly veiled attempt to gag bloggers and restrict freedom of expression.
The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms and for Related Matters,” seeks to compel social media platforms and bloggers to establish local offices in Nigeria and register with a recognised national association.
According to SERAP, the bill — which has already passed its first and second readings in the Senate — poses a serious threat to fundamental rights guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a party.
It said, “This bill is a blatant attempt to resurrect the widely rejected social media bill through the back door.
“If passed, it could be used to block platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and independent bloggers who fail to establish physical offices within 30 days.”
The organisation noted that the proposed regulation could be weaponised by authorities to clamp down on dissent, muzzle criticism of government policies, and punish journalists and bloggers for their views.
SERAP stated, “The bill may be used to violate the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
“Mandatory registration of bloggers is incompatible with democratic values and international best practices. Bloggers should not be compelled to join associations or disclose their sources.”
It warned that forcing international tech companies to maintain physical offices in Nigeria could cripple the digital economy and disrupt businesses that rely on global platforms and digital tools.
It said, “The proposed legislation will severely hamper the operations of businesses and civil society organisations, many of which depend on foreign services and technologies.
“It could also deter whistleblowers and stifle investigative reporting by threatening the confidentiality of journalistic sources.”
SERAP further argued that the bill is inconsistent with the spirit of the Nigerian Constitution and violates the right to seek, receive, and impart information across borders, using any media of choice.
“The regulation of bloggers and the forced licensing of journalism are at odds with the principle of free expression. There is no legitimate reason for such sweeping measures in a democratic society,” the group asserted.
Citing international declarations on internet freedoms, including the 2005 and 2011 Joint Declarations on Freedom of Expression, SERAP maintained that “no one should be required to register with or obtain permission from any public body to operate a blog, website, or other online platform.”
It warned that should the bill be passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, it would initiate legal proceedings to challenge its legality and ensure that it is not implemented.
“The National Assembly must act in the public interest. Nigerians deserve a digital space that promotes dialogue, accountability, and innovation—not one shackled by fear, censorship, and bureaucratic control,” SERAP concluded.
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