Withdraw Controversial Bill To Regulate Bloggers, Social Media Or Face Legal Action- SERAP Tells Akpabio, Abass

The proposed amendment seeks to impose regulations on bloggers operating within Nigeria’s borders, which SERAP has described as repressive.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to withdraw a controversial bill to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

The proposed amendment seeks to impose regulations on bloggers operating within Nigeria’s borders, which SERAP has described as repressive.

SERAP urged Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas “to ensure that any amendment to the Nigeria Data Protection Act promotes and protects the rights of bloggers and other journalists and does not undermine the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.”

SERAP also urged Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas “to end the imposition of unnecessary restrictions on the rights of Nigerians online and Internet-based content.”

There is currently a 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” (the “bill”).

SERAP noted that the bill seeks to regulate bloggers by requiring all bloggers to register local offices and join a recognised national association for bloggers. It has passed its first and second readings in the Senate.

In a letter dated 12 April 2025, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “This bill is a blatant attempt to bring back and fast-track the obnoxious and widely rejected social media bill by the back-door.

“If passed, the bill would also be used to ban major social media platforms—including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and independent bloggers if they ‘continuously fail to establish/register and maintain physical offices in Nigeria for a period of 30 days.’”

“The bill may also be used to block access of Nigerians to social media platforms. Blocking access to social media platforms is a flagrant violation of fundamental rights,” the letter read in part.

“Should the National Assembly and its leadership fail to withdraw the bill to regulate the activities of bloggers, and should any such bill be assented to by President Bola Tinubu, SERAP would consider appropriate legal action to challenge the legality of any such law and ensure it is never implemented in the public interest,” SERAP said.

SERAP raised concerns that the regulation of bloggers could be used to suppress dissent and silence criticism of the ruling party or government policies. According to the organisation, the proposed regulation might serve as a tool to punish bloggers simply for exercising their human rights peacefully.

It said the bill appears to target bloggers both within and outside Nigeria, potentially impacting the freedom of expression for a broad range of individuals. SERAP argues that the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 does not align with the Nigerian Constitution or international human rights obligations.

If passed, the amendment could negatively impact unregistered bloggers operating within Nigeria and may infringe upon rights to privacy, peaceful assembly, and association, the organisation noted.

According to SERAP, the amendment contradicts Nigeria’s duty to uphold the right to freedom of opinion and expression and could disproportionately restrict forms of expression vital to a democratic society.

The bill is seen as a serious threat to journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society organisations that may be critical of the government. It risks undermining democracy and press freedom.

Mandatory regulation of journalism is considered incompatible with freedom of expression. SERAP insists that there is no valid justification for requiring bloggers—or members of the public—to obtain government registration or licenses to express themselves.

It noted that blogging is recognised as playing a critical role in the free exchange of information, and bloggers should not be subjected to compulsory registration by state authorities.

“The bill may also be used as a pretext to force bloggers to disclose their sources. The right to protect sources is a cornerstone of freedom of the press, without which sources may be deterred from assisting the press in informing the public on matters of public interest,” it said.