Nigeria has gained increased global recognition in data privacy and digital governance following the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act and the establishment of an independent data protection regulator, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
The National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the National Data Privacy Summit 2026, stating that the new legal framework has positioned Nigeria as a serious player in the global data privacy ecosystem.
According to Dr. Olatunji, Nigeria’s data protection journey reached a major milestone on June 12, 2023, when President Bola Tinubu signed the Nigeria Data Protection Act into law. The Act formally gave legal backing to the NDPC and granted it independence to regulate data protection matters in the country.
“On the 12th of June, 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed the Nigeria Data Protection Act, which empowered us to operate as an independent data protection commission,” the Comissioner said. “With this, Nigeria is now firmly positioned in the global data privacy space and the emerging global citizen data economy.”
He explained that the journey to establishing the commission and passing the law was demanding, but the progress made has drawn attention beyond Africa. Olatunji noted that Nigeria’s efforts in data protection are now being recognised internationally as a sign of growing digital maturity.
“It has been challenging, but the good news is that Nigeria is making steady progress, and this progress is being recognised globally, not just within Africa,” he said, while acknowledging the role of stakeholders who supported the process from its early stages.
Olatunji said the National Data Privacy Summit was organised as part of activities to mark Global Privacy Day, which is observed worldwide every year. He added that Nigeria’s celebration now spans an entire week due to rising public awareness and growing interest in data protection issues.
He also noted that the summit coincided with the anniversary of the NDPC, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to assess emerging challenges and opportunities in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital ecosystem.
According to him, Nigeria’s digital space has expanded rapidly, driven by innovation in areas such as fintech, e-commerce and digital services. However, he warned that innovation is sometimes moving faster than regulation, making it necessary to strike a careful balance between technological advancement and the protection of personal data.
“The key task before regulators and industry players is to ensure that innovation does not come at the expense of citizens’ privacy and data security,” Olatunji said.
Meanwhile, the federal government has called on regulators, technology companies and other stakeholders to place ethics at the centre of the deployment of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The government warned that rapid innovation without proper safeguards could undermine citizens’ rights and weaken public trust.
The call was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nadungu Gagare. He was represented at the summit by the Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo.
