- Says heavy fines await violators
BY EDMOND ODOK – The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has signaled its resolve to enhance enforcement and impose substantial fines on violators of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).
Announcing plans that would drive its decision in the new dispensation, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji, warned data controllers and processors to brace up or face the music from now on.
In a video shared on its social media platforms at the weekend to outline NDPC’s 2025 agenda, Olatunji said; “For data controllers and processors, there is going to be massive enforcement. We have never really issued any fine, but going forward, you’ll hear us giving heavy penalties.”
He said all measures are in place to ensure that Nigerians’ data rights, as guaranteed by the NDPA, are fully protected, with defaulting data controllers and processors bound to face strict consequences for their misdeeds.
Highlighting the extensive engagements with stakeholders across public and private sectors to promote awareness and compliance with the NDPC’s mandate, Olatunji explained that these have resulted in the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with key organizations in the sector.
On the list of partnering organisations are the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), the Data Privacy Office of Canada, and the Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (DIFC), among others.
Also speaking on work being done to advance the second phase of NDPC’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (NDP-SRAP 2023-2027) in 2025, he said this phase is expected to create job opportunities within Nigeria’s data protection and privacy ecosystem, particularly for young people.
According to him; “The Commission has been actively training Nigerians in data protection and privacy, creating a pool of globally competitive experts within the data protection sector in 2025.
“There are a lot of data controllers and processors that are looking for people to work with them. Now those that we have trained in 2024, those we have certified, we are going to do more this year to launch them to the job market where they can work with data controllers and processors.”
Further assuring that the NDPC would sustain countrywide efforts to promote data protection awareness, Olatunji said the plan is to adequately educate Nigerians about their rights and the importance of data privacy.
Similarly, he explained that it would be an opportunity to remind data controllers and processors of their obligations under the NDP Act, stressing that all the initiatives are part of the broader goal of embedding a culture of data protection and privacy in the country.
Olatunji stressed that ultimately, everything is being done to reinforce the Commission’s commitment to ensure data protection and privacy become integral to Nigeria’s digital landscape while building trust as well as fostering economic growth and development.
The NDPC Boss also disclosed that Nigeria will host the “Network of African Data Protection Authorities Conference” in May 2025 as part of its international engagement efforts, adding that participants are expected from over 40 nations with existing data protection laws.
He said aside from positioning Nigeria as a leader in the data protection ecosystem, the global event will bring significant economic benefits to the country going forward.
