NCC CEO, Maida
The Nigerian Communications Commission and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation on data privacy and protection enforcement in the telecommunications sector, as regulators intensify efforts to safeguard Nigerians’ personal information in a rapidly digitising economy.
The MoU was signed on Thursday at the NCC headquarters in Abuja, with officials from both agencies describing the agreement as a critical step toward stronger, coordinated regulation of data controllers and processors operating in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Speaking at the ceremony, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, said the partnership reflected the growing importance of personal data protection to citizens’ rights and national development.
“We are set up to take care of something that is very significant to our civil condition and to Nigeria as a country. All of us give out our information all over the world. Once you give out your data, you have handed it over to a third party that you no longer have control over,” Olatunji said.
He said the global shift toward stricter data protection was driven by the need to protect citizens from misuse of information shared in public and commercial spaces, stressing that personal data was a fundamental right.
According to him, this year’s global data privacy theme, ‘Own Your Data’, underscored the need for individuals to understand and exercise control over how their data is used.
“Data controllers and processors must obey the laws and regulations governing data privacy. As a data subject, you have the right to exercise your rights. That is why it is important to look at data privacy in a way that benefits our people and our country,” he said. Punch
