President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a significant move towards safeguarding personal information, officially signed the Nigeria Data Protection Bill, 2023 into law on Wednesday.
This milestone was confirmed by Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), during the NDPD Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) validation workshop held in Abuja.
The Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023 now serves as a robust legal framework to ensure the protection of personal information and the proper practice of data protection throughout Nigeria. This legislation comes as a response to the growing concerns regarding data privacy and security in an increasingly digital world.
The bill underwent a thorough process before reaching this pivotal stage. On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded the bill to both the Senate and the House of Representatives for careful consideration and passage.
With the Nigeria Data Protection Act now in effect, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission will be established, effectively replacing the NDPB, which was initially established by former President Buhari in February 2022.
The Commission will be led by a National Commissioner who will bear the crucial responsibility of regulating the processing of personal information.
This new development signals a significant step forward in ensuring that individual’s personal data is adequately protected and that organizations adhere to appropriate data protection practices.
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission will play a pivotal role in monitoring and enforcing compliance with the provisions of the law, thus fostering a safer and more secure digital environment for all citizens.
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