Vol. 19 No. 4 March 2024 YURISDIKSI Jurnal Wacana Hukum dan Sains Universitas Merdeka Surabaya This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License \ Copyright (c) 2024 Author(s) 455 ISSN print 2086-6852 and ISSN Online 2598-5892 The Prospect, Legal, and Socio-economic Implication of Metaverse Operation in Nigeria Paul Atagamen Aidonojie 1* , Adesoji Kolawole Adebayo 2 , Eregbuonye Obieshi 3 , Antai Godswill Owoche 4 , Isaac Ottah Ogbemudia, 5 Muhammad Mutawalli Mukhlis 6 1,4 School of Law Kampala International University, Uganda 2 Department of Private and Commercial Law, School of Law and Security Studies, Babcock University School of Law Kampala International University, Uganda 3 Department of Public and International Law Edo State University Uzairue, Nigeria 5 Faculty of Law Edo State University Uzairue, Nigeria 6 State College Majene,West Sulawesi, Indonesia *Corresponding author E-mail: Paul.aidonojie@kiu.ac.ug Article History: Received: January 27, 2024; Accepted: March 05, 2024 ABSTRACT The metaverse, a digital realm blending virtual environments with reality, holds immense potential across sectors. In Nigeria, understanding its implications necessitates exploration from various angles. Firstly, the legal landscape demands scrutiny, with existing regulations evaluated for their applicability and efficacy. Secondly, socio-economic considerations assume paramount importance, given the metaverse's potential to reshape societal norms and economic activities. Concerning this, the employ a hybrid research methodology that focus on the potentials of metaverse's emergence, legal framework, and socio-economic effects within Nigeria. 308 questionnaire were distribute to respondents residing in Nigeria. The collected data underwent descriptive and analytical analysis. The findings underscore that permitting the operation of the metaverse in Nigeria holds promise for enhancing the nation's economy and facilitating digital interactions. However, the study also reveals potential pitfalls notably that the existing legal framework may prove insufficient in addressing the unique challenges posed by the metaverse. Moreover, the metaverse's transformative impact on the Nigerian economy may carry adverse consequences. Consequently, the study concludes by recommending the imperative need for a novel legal framework tailored to address the distinctive intricacies presented by the metaverse for its effective operation in Nigeria. Keywords: Digital, Legal; Metaverse, Nigeria,, Socio-economic, Technology. 1. INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic, which swept across the globe, had profound consequences on the way we live and work (Paul Aidonojie et al., 2022). It forced a sudden and widespread shift towards remote work and digital solutions to maintain business continuity (Paul Aidonojie, 2023). This unprecedented situation ignited a surge in research and development efforts, with scientific researchers striving to discover digital innovations that would enable businesses and individuals to operate smoothly from their homes or other remote locations. In this context, the metaverse has emerged as one of the most promising digital technology innovations (Fuady et al., 2023).