NDPC Strengthens Data Protection, Privacy Laws

The Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has strengthened the data protection mechanism and framework  for compliance with data protection and privacy laws  in Nigeria in order to boost the economy and create jobs.

In the bid to achieve this the commission has commenced the process of sensitising critical stakeholders in the Nigerian  public. 

Speaking at the opening of a workshop for members of ICT and cyber committees as well as the National Assembly in Abuja, the national commissioner, Vincent Olatunji, said the workshop was aimed at building the capacity of participants in the data protection ecosystem.

He said  the workshop would drive the efforts to strengthen data protection mechanisms to instill trust and confidence among Nigerians and create employment opportunities in the sector.

“It’s really important for us to break down what we have in the law for all stakeholders to understand. What we are doing here today is to build their capacity, to let them know the opportunities and potentials inherent in the law and what the commission is doing, and to look at the risk of non-compliance to the law,” he said.

He added that the commission had plans to register data controllers and processors across the country, which would enable the NDPC to monitor the level of compliance in all government agencies.

He stressed  the determination of the agency to increase its awareness campaign to include electronic, social and print media in educating Nigerians from January 2024, on how the data protection and privacy law works.

 He said so far, the commission had  recorded an increase in compliance level  from 4% to 9% in 2022. 

Also speaking during the workshop  the chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Shuaibu Salisu, said the country needs to intensify awareness campaign and the compliance to data protection laws in the country to enhance capacity.