Nigeria Generates N12bn From Data Protection In 2024

Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has said the federal government generated N12 billion from promoting and enforcing data protection regulations in 2024.

According to the commission’s annual report released on Tuesday, the development marks a 200 per cent increase from the N4 billion recorded in 2021.

Between 2020 and 2021, the NDPC recorded 1,864 compliance reports from organisations, while between 2023 and 2024, this figure rose to 4,691, indicating an increase in awareness and adherence to data protection regulations.

In 2024, the commission investigated 213 privacy breaches, unauthorised data sharing, and non-compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).

The data protection sector also became a major employment generator, creating 23,000 jobs in 2024, up from 10,123 in 2023.

Additionally, the number of Verified Data Protection Officers (DPOs) increased from 362 to 2,888 in the same period, showing an increasing demand for trained professionals.

In Nigeria, data privacy is enshrined as a constitutional right, as stated in Section 37 of the Constitution, which protects the privacy of citizens’ homes, correspondence, telephone conversations, and telegraphic communications.