The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening collaboration on data privacy and protection in Nigeria.
The agreement was signed on Thursday at the NCC headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner of the NDPC, said the partnership would allow both agencies to pool their expertise and institutional strengths to better safeguard Nigerians’ data.
Olatunji noted that neither commission could effectively discharge its mandate in isolation, stressing that cooperation had become imperative as data increasingly underpins 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 operationalised,” he said.
He also called for adequate empowerment of the joint teams that worked on the agreement to ensure smooth and 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 support, irrespective of sectoral boundaries.
Maida said the NCC had successfully guided Nigeria through a major connectivity phase, growing active telecom lines from about 500,000 to nearly 200 million, but added that the country was now transitioning into a new digital era.
According to him, regulators now have a responsibility not only to connect Nigerians, but also to ensure that citizens and businesses can benefit from emerging technologies such as automation and artificial intelligence.
He described data as the backbone of this new phase, noting that artificial intelligence (AI) systems rely heavily on data generated by individuals using digital platforms. He added that Nigerians must understand the data they generate and their rights over its use.
“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.”
Maida said both commissions would work closely to ensure that communication networks remain resilient, while data generated on those platforms is protected in line with Nigerian laws.