Senator Ned Nwoko, the lawmaker for the Delta North Senatorial District, has pushed for the opening of Nigerian offices for the different social media companies that operate there.
Nwoko gave various justifications for his demand in a Sunday interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He underlined how crucial it is for these platforms to have local offices in order to improve income creation, enable more efficient business operations, offer a convenient means of handling complaints and legal issues, and generate employment possibilities.
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The senator emphasised how important it is for large social media companies to be physically present in Nigeria. He argued that this presence is crucial for driving economic growth, fostering job creation, streamlining dispute resolution processes, and boosting revenue generation for the nation.
Pointing out that Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with a population exceeding 200 million, Nwoko highlighted the nation’s active engagement with popular social media platforms.
“These multinational social platforms widely used in Nigeria include, but are not limited to, Facebook, X, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok.
“Nigerians rank first in Africa for their extensive social media usage and second globally, with an average daily internet usage of three hours and 46 minutes, according to the latest Global Web Index (GWI) as reported by Business Insider Africa.
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“In spite of the substantial usage of these social media platforms by Nigerians within the country, these companies have yet to establish offices in Nigeria,” Nwoko said.
Nwoko highlighted the achievements of several international companies that have set up shop in Nigeria, such as the MTN Group, Shell, Chevron, Nestle, Total, P&G, and others. He emphasised the significant contributions these businesses have made to the country’s technological development and economic expansion.
“However, notably absent is their presence in Nigeria, a nation globally ranked second in Internet and social media usage,” Nwoko said.
Nwoko recalled that in 2022, all online platforms were required to register, open offices in Nigeria, and assign contact persons to communicate with the Federal Government. This mandate was issued by the Federal Government through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
He also brought up the June 2021 event, in which the Nigerian government suspended Twitter (now X) when former President Muhammadu Buhari’s post was removed.
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“However, the ban was later lifted after the social media platform agreed to open a local office, among other agreements.
“A case that could have been swiftly, efficiently, and effectively resolved if the respective social media platform had established an office in Nigeria,” he said.
The legislator drew attention to the lack of offices for international social media companies in Nigeria, stressing that while these companies have offices across the globe—in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, India, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, and other countries—none of them are located in Nigeria.
He clarified that these platforms have offices in several nations as part of their plan to support their user bases, manage local content regulations, cultivate local alliances, and respond to particular market demands and issues.
Nwoko expressed worry, pointing out that there are problems with little local representation because social media platforms do not have offices in Nigeria.
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“Addressing specific issues or concerns relevant to Nigeria takes a longer time and is less effectively handled due to distance and potential cultural or regulatory gaps.
“The lack of proximity also results in slower responses to user complaints, regulatory inquiries, or content moderation issues specific to Nigeria.
“Also missed economic opportunities as these platforms typically employ a diverse range of professionals, from technical roles to customer support, content moderation, marketing, legal, and managerial positions,” he said.
The congressman emphasised that the lack of these offices is a loss of potential for technology transfer, job development, and tax and partnership benefits to the Nigerian economy.
He stressed that it is difficult to handle legal or regulatory issues pertaining to content, data privacy, and user rights because there aren’t enough social media offices in the nation.
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Nwoko recommended that the Foreign Affairs, Communication, and Digital Economy ministries actively interact with international social media companies and encourage them to open operations in Nigeria.
He stressed that having these offices across the country would have a significant positive impact on the economy, create jobs, and improve local engagement.
Nwoko emphasised the significance of conformity and requested that NITDA oversee the enforcement of current laws requiring internet companies to register and open offices in Nigeria. He emphasised that in order to help Nigerian users and the country’s economy as a whole, social media platforms must adhere to these regulations.
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