The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has strongly condemned the Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026, calling it a backdoor attempt to regulate social media and expand government control over online expression.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, requires tech companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria and empowers the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to shut down non-compliant platforms within 30 days.

SERAP argues that the bill violates international human rights standards and risks undermining digital rights, freedom of expression, and access to information.

The organization warns that the bill could lead to censorship, surveillance, and political interference, echoing past controversies like the Twitter suspension by the Nigerian government.

SERAP urges lawmakers to reject the bill, emphasizing that localization requirements are unnecessary and threaten Nigeria’s digital economy and innovation ecosystem.

The letter highlights the lack of procedural safeguards, such as judicial oversight or alternatives to exclusion, and stresses that the bill fails constitutional and international law requirements of necessity and proportionality.

SERAP also notes that similar proposals have faced public opposition and human rights concerns, urging the National Assembly to prioritize constitutional democracy and digital rights over restrictive regulations.