The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the National Assembly to immediately withdraw the proposed Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, describing it as a “backdoor attempt” to regulate social media and expand government control over online expression.
The rights group warned that the bill, if passed in its current form, would grant regulators sweeping powers to shut down digital platforms operating in Nigeria, thereby threatening the constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression, access to information and digital communication.
In a letter dated July 18, 2026, addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, SERAP said the proposed legislation should be rejected because it violates both the Nigerian Constitution and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
The letter was signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
Sponsored by Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North), the bill seeks to compel social media platforms, data controllers and data processors operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country.
