-O. Adejo
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued new regulations governing the operation of Internet platforms in Nigeria.
They were included in a statement issued on Monday by NITDA spokesperson Hadiza Umar.
According to Umar, the new code was created to “define guidelines for interacting on the digital ecosystem.”
Vip magazine gathered that internet platforms must “register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and appoint a designated country representative to interface with Nigerian authorities,” according to the code.
It also required that they comply with all regulatory requirements and applicable tax obligations imposed by Nigerian law on their operations.
NITDA also stated that Internet platforms must “provide a comprehensive compliance mechanism to prevent the publication of prohibited content and unethical behaviour on their platform.”
The new rules were “developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), as well as input from Interactive Computer Service Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Google, Tik Tok, and others,” according to the agency.
Twitter was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from June 2021 to January 2022.
Government releases draft regulations for Social Media Operators in Nigeria