DATA GOVERNANCE: Nigeria rakes in N7.2bn from data privacy defaulters, others

2026-02-04 - 13:09

*Licenses over 7000 Data Protection Officers *Creates over 28000 jobs in data protection space *Grows ecosystem to N16.2bn industry ..As OADC Lagos bankrolls NDPC’s Privacy week summit By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor The wheel of Nigeria’s data protection machine was grinding almost at a snail speed in 2023 when the country established the Nigerian Data Protection Council, NDPC. The council came into force following the signing of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 into law by President Bola Tinubu. It was created to regulate data protection, replacing the previous Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, NDPB which was established in February 2022. The country had little choice, anyway, because it became apparent then, that every country does so, after the European Union’s comprehensive data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR had threatened EU/EEA countries with heavy sanctions should they run afoul of securing, managing, and processing data lawfully. Like everything Nigerian, the council started with very little hope of breaking even, but today, Hi-Tech has authoritatively gathered that despite not established as a revenue generator, the Dr Vincent Olatunji-led Council has put into the country’s coffers, a whooping N7.2 billion from company registrations, compliance revenues and fines from companies who thought they could still do data business as done prior NDPC. The council has also registered over 38,677 Data Controllers and Processors of Major Importance (DCPMIs); licensed 317 Data Protection Compliance Organisations, DPCOs operating in Nigeria, with over 8,155 compliance audit returns filed to date. The commission said it has also concluded 246 investigations into data breaches, which resulted in 11 significant enforcement actions, such as heavy fines and remediation directives, growing the ecosystem to about N16.2 billion induatry. In addition to all these qchievements, the Council has driven the ecosystem to create over 23,000 jobs for Nigerians. According to the National Commissioner of NDPR, Dr Vincent Olatunji, the surge in local expertise was bolstered by the launch of the maiden National DPO Certification Exam, where 494 candidates out of 500 were successfully certified. He said, “The presence of an independent data protection authority is a critical requirement for international business confidence. This global credibility earned Nigeria the Picasso Award for the Best Data Protection Authority in Africa and led to Nigeria hosting over 20 authorities for the 8th NADPA meeting in May 2025. “The issuance of the General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) on March 20, 2025, which became fully effective on September 19, 2025, provided a clearer framework for organizations to navigate their legal obligations. “This year we will intensify the enforcement of the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act and take appropriate actions against non-compliant organizations,” he warned. The commission also plans to expand its Youth Data Protection Awareness Program, which aims to empower 5,000 youths with digital literacy, and further integrate its Virtual Privacy Academy to meet global standards. ...OADC bankrolls National Privacy Week to bolster local data hosting Meanwhile, Tier 3 Data centre operators, Open Access Data Centres (OADC) Lagos has revealed it bankrolled part of the NDPC’s National Privacy Week as a mark of it’s commitment to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda and efforts to ensure local hosting in the country. The summit which ends today is themed “Privacy in the Age of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics, and Innovation”. The Summit, convened policymakers, regulators, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to promote data privacy awareness, strengthen compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), and advance conversations around data security, sovereignty, and responsible data governance. As a sponsor of the event, OADC Lagos said it has demonstrated its continued support for the Federal Government’s drive toward local data hosting and data domiciliation, which are increasingly critical to safeguarding sensitive information, enhancing regulatory compliance, and building trust in Nigeria’s digital economy. Through its carrier-neutral, Tier III Design certified data centre in Lekki, Lagos, OADC provides secure, resilient, and compliant infrastructure that enables government institutions and private sector organisations to host and manage data locally while meeting international best practices. Country Marketing Manager, Open Access Data Centres Nigeria, Adesola Adesugba,said: “We are proud to have supported the Nigeria Data Protection Commission through the National Privacy Week Summit and to stand alongside the government in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation objectives. “Strengthening local data hosting and domiciliation is fundamental to national data sovereignty, improved security, and sustainable digital growth, and OADC Lagos remains committed to enabling this future.” OADC says it’s participation at the summit underscores its role as a trusted digital infrastructure partner to government and enterprise, supporting secure cloud connectivity, regulatory compliance, and the long-term development of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. Open Access Data Centres is part of the WIOCC Group and operates open-access, world-class data centres across Africa, serving cloud providers, network operators, enterprises, and public sector institutions.