Nigeria has taken a giant leap forward in the global data race with the assent to Nigeria Data Protection Act by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The Act was signed on the 12th of June 2023.

The Head Legal Enforcement and Regulations, Barr. Babatunde Bamigboye who made the disclosure in a statement issued to news men said that the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, pursuant to the express provisions of the new act, has transmutted into a full-fledged Commission and it is mandated to among others:

While applauding the President for renewing the hope of over 200 million Nigerians in the advancement of Privacy rights and other fundamental freedoms both in cyberspace and in analogue transactions, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission National Commissioner, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, equally expressed high optimism on the prospects of Nigeria’s Digital Economy following the emerging regulatory dispensation.

(a) regulate the deployment of technological and organisational measures to enhance personal data protection;

(b) foster the development of personal data protection technologies, in accordance with recognised international best practices and applicable international law;

conduct investigations into any violation of a requirement under the Act;

(C) impose penalties in respect of any violation of the provisions of the Act or subsidiary legislation made thereof;

(d) where necessary, accredit, license, and register suitable persons to provide data protection compliance services;

(e) issue regulations, rules, directives and guidance under the Act; and

(f) register data controllers and data processors of major importance.

The Act is one of the strategic ways of meeting the campaign promise of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR of creating 1Million jobs in the Digital Economy sector.

About 500, 000 jobs are expected to be created through the training of Data Protection Officers and licensing of Data Protection Compliance Organizations to offer services to data controllers and processors.