The Federal Government has announced that it is considering the establishment of Data Protection Commission to regulate and address the issues of breach of personal data of the Nigerian citizens.
Dr. Isah Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, revealed this at the weekend in Abuja at the public presentation of Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) Performance Report 2019-2020.
Pantami said the proposed Data Protection Commission when established, would work closely with his ministry and agencies under the supervision of the ministry to create a healthy business environment for the development of the Nigerian digital economy.
He underscored the need for the protection of personal data of the citizenry, adding that data has become “the oil of the digital economy.
According to him, “It is often said that data is the oil of the digital economy. As such, the integrity of the digital economy relies, to a large extent, on the integrity and protection of data.
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“The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation supports the development of our digital economy and I must say that the NDPR aligns perfectly with our developmental regulatory pillar under National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).
The minister noted that the implementation of NDPR has created about 2,686 jobs as well as generated over N2billion in the first year of its implementation.
“I am proud to see that we have through the NDPR added 2,686 job roles, thereby creating massive opportunities for young Nigerians to be recruited as Data Protection Officers, Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs), Compliance Officers, among others.
“The DPCOs have also earned over N2billion in the first year of implementation. This is the intent of our digital economy policy-empowering Nigerians in a way that ensures global competitiveness.”
To this end, Pantami charged the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and its management and staff to be more proactive in the enforcement of breach of personal data of Nigerians by organizations.
