Nigeria Data Protection Bill faces legal challenge from SERAP

The Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) sent a letter on 18 July 2026 to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas urging the immediate withdrawal of the Nigeria Data Protection (Amendment) Bill 2026. SERAP says the bill is a “backdoor” to regulate social media, requiring platforms, data controllers and processors to establish physical offices in Nigeria and giving the Nigeria Data Protection Commission authority to shut down non‑compliant services within 30 days. The group warned it would file a lawsuit if the legislation is enacted in its current or substantially similar form.

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) publicly backed SERAP, noting that the provisions could breach constitutional freedoms of expression and echo the 2021 Twitter suspension declared unlawful by the ECOWAS Court. The bill, sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North), is criticised for exposing technology firms and users to political pressure, censorship and economic costs, potentially affecting millions of Nigerians and the country’s digital economy.