The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on data privacy and protection in the country.
The MoU was signed at the NCC’s headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner of the NDPC, said the partnership was necessary to combine the expertise and capacities of both agencies to effectively protect Nigerians’ data.
Olatunji said neither institution could fully achieve its mandate in isolation, stressing that cooperation was critical as data becomes central to governance, economic growth and national development.
“We don’t want this MoU just signed and kept on the shelf. We want it signed and immediately op erationalised,” Olatunji said.
The NDPC boss also called for proper empowerment of the joint teams that worked on the agreement to ensure effective implementation, describing the collaboration as “good for the country”.
In his remarks, Aminu Maida, executive vice-chairman (EVC) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the NCC, assured the NDPC of the commission’s full cooperation, regardless of sectoral boundaries.
Maida said the NCC had successfully led Nigeria through an era of connectivity, growing telecom lines from about 500,000 to nearly 200 million, but noted that the country was now entering a new digital phase.
According to the EVC, regulators now have a responsibility not just to connect Nigerians, but to enable citizens and businesses to benefit from emerging technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence.
He described data as central to this new era, noting that artificial intelligence (AI) systems depend on data generated by individuals using digital platforms.
Maida said Nigerians must be aware of the data they generate and their rights over how it is used.
“Data is very important to this next era, and the people who generate this data is me and you, and as disruptive as people think, AI is, AI cannot exist without me and you using digital platforms, so our role as a regulator is to enable people to use these digital platforms,” Maida said.
“If people do not know their rights around data, somebody else will monetise it. And this is why data protection is very, very important towards the future and sovereignty of this nation.”
The NCC boss said both commissions would work together to ensure communication networks remain robust while guaranteeing that data generated on those platforms is protected in line with Nigerian laws.
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