Tinubu signs Nigeria Data Protection Act

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) on Wednesday signed the Nigeria Data Protection Bill, 2023 into law.

An official statement signed by the Head, Legal Enforcement and Regulations of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Babatunde Bamigboye confirmed this.

Bamigboye also said in the statement that the President assented to the Act on Democracy Day, June 12th, 2023.

According to Bamigboye, the nation has taken a massive leap forward in the global data race with the assent to the Nigeria Data Protection Act.

“The Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, pursuant to the express provisions of the new act, has transmitted into a full-fledged Commission and it is mandated to among others regulate the deployment of technological and organizational measures to enhance personal data protection,” Bamigboye stated.

“It will also foster the development of personal data protection technologies, in accordance with recognised international best practices and applicable international law as well as conduct investigations into any violation of a requirement under the Act.

“Other mandates of the NDPB as contained in the provisions of the new Act include to “impose penalties in respect of any violation of the provisions of the Act or subsidiary legislation made thereof where necessary, accredit, license and register suitable persons to provide data protection compliance services; issue regulations, rules, directives and guidance under the Act; and register data controllers and data processors of major importance.”

Bamigboye explained that the Act is one of the strategic ways of meeting the campaign promise of President Tinubu of creating one million jobs in the digital economy sector.

He noted that 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.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 provides a legal framework for the protection of personal information and the practice of data protection in the country.

The Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, disclosed this at the institution’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) validation workshop in Abuja.

The bill was sent to the Senate and House of Representatives for consideration and passage on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 via a letter from the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“Now an Act, the new law establishes the Nigeria Data Protection Commission and replaces the NDPB established by former President Buhari in February 2022,” Olatunji stated.

Olatunji applauded Tinubu 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.

He equally expressed high optimism on the prospects of Nigeria’s Digital Economy following the emerging regulatory dispensation.

The NDPC will be led by a National Commissioner with the responsibility of regulating the processing of personal information.