In the wake of the rapid growth of the digital economy, the World Bank and stakeholders have advised the Federal Government of Nigeria to enact a data protection and privacy law as soon as possible.
A statement said that the matter was tabled at a two-day
Policy Dialogue on Nigeria’s Data Protection law, convened by the Nigeria Data
Protection Bureau, with support from the Nigeria Digital Identification for a
Development project in Abuja- where participants were of the view that a data
protection law for the country was long overdue.
Speaking at the event, World Bank’s Country Director for
Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, urged the Nigerian government to take urgent steps
toward legislating a data protection law for the country.
According to Chaudhuri, digital identification is a key to
unlocking the potential of nations, and a data protection law was crucial for
Nigeria.
“Digital identification is key to unlocking the potential of
nations. A data protection law is very critical for Nigeria. Nigeria’s
potential for a digital economy is high. We are hopeful that Nigeria will be
able to enact a data protection and privacy law soon.”
In a statement, no fewer than 250 stakeholders unanimously
gave their nod to the steps towards enacting a principal data protection law
for Nigeria. Related News
While speaking at the event, the Minister for Communication
and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, commended the Nigeria Digital
ID4D project for supporting the event, describing data protection as very
important for the country.
He said, “Data has become a highly sought commodity, and
more people are concerned about how their data is stored, processed, and
transmitted.”
The minister, who was represented by the Director General,
National Identity Management Commission, Aliyu Aziz, debated that a data
protection law would provide the legal basis for challenging the unlawful use
of data.
Further commenting on the data protection law, National
Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, Dr.
Vincent Olatunji, assured the stakeholders that the suggested law would help
secure citizens’ data.
The Project Coordinator, Nigeria Digital Identification for
a Development project, Musa Odole Solomon, noted that Data Protection was a
constitutional matter, even as he made a case for a principal privacy law for
Nigeria.
Solomon emphasised the advantages of digital identification,
adding that the drive for citizens’ enrolment for National Identity numbers
makes timely enactment of the law expedient.