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Nigeria strengthens data protection with strategic state partnership.
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Data Governance with the Bauchi State Government. This marks a major step towards enhancing data privacy, compliance, and digital trust under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act), 2023.
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The signing took place during the recent launch of Bauchi’s Cybernation and Digital Literacy Skills Programme. At the event, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed stressed the critical role of data protection in building a trustworthy, inclusive, and sustainable digital economy.
Governor Endorses Data Compliance for State Agencies
Governor Mohammed directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to align their operations with the NDP Act. He also announced the creation of a Data Protection Service Unit to enforce compliance and safeguard citizens’ digital rights.
He commended NDPC’s National Commissioner, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, for his leadership in driving Nigeria’s data protection agenda. According to him, the MoU is a strategic move to foster trust and attract investment into Bauchi’s digital economy.
Key Initiatives Under the MoU
The NDPC–Bauchi collaboration will focus on:
- State-wide Data Protection Policies to standardize compliance.
- Capacity Building for public institutions and civil servants.
- Citizen and Business Awareness Campaigns to promote digital rights.
- Data Compliance Frameworks across MDAs.
- Enforcement of Data Subject Rights to protect personal information.
NDPC Highlights National Data Protection Priorities
Represented by Babatunde Bamigboye, NDPC’s legal head, Dr. Olatunji praised Bauchi for taking a historic step in the data privacy and security space.
He recalled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s signing of the NDP Act in 2023 and the release of the General and Implementation Directive 2025. All of these have helped to provides a national roadmap for compliance.
Olatunji emphasized that unlike in past industrial revolutions, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) offers African nations the opportunity to be producers, not just consumers. This will only be possible provided they safeguard the 5Vs of data—Value, Volume, Veracity, Variety, and Velocity.
Data Protection as the Key to Digital Sustainability
Highlighting Nigeria’s vast population and diversity, Olatunji stressed that data protection is essential for sustaining the digital economy, boosting investor confidence, enabling cross-border data flows, and protecting citizens from identity theft and digital exclusion.
He noted that over 130 countries now have independent Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) to ensure safe cross-border data transfers. For Nigeria to thrive, he said, federal–state collaboration is not optional—it is vital.
