Abuja — Di Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and di Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) don sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation on data privacy and protection enforcement for di telecommunications sector.
Di MoU wey dem sign on Thursday for NCC headquarters for Abuja aim to strengthen coordinated regulation of data controllers and processors as Nigeria dey enter deeper digital economy.
National Commissioner of NDPC, Mr Vincent Olatunji, tok during di signing say di partnership show how important personal data protection don become to citizens’ rights and national development.
According to am, Nigerians dey share dia personal information everywhere, and once data don enter third-party hand, control over am dey very limited.
He say global push for stronger data protection dey driven by di need to protect citizens from misuse of information for public and commercial spaces, stressing say personal data na fundamental human right.
Olatunji explain say di global data privacy theme for dis year, “Own Your Data,” dey remind people say dem suppose understand and control how dia data dey used.
He stress say all data controllers and processors must obey data privacy laws, while citizens get right to question and control dia personal information.
He also recall say Nigeria start formal data protection efforts for 2019 and finally get full national legislation on data privacy after di law come into effect for June 2023.
According to am, proper enforcement no fit work well without close collaboration with sector regulators, especially telecom regulators, because di telecom industry dey generate huge volume of personal data.
He clarify say NDPC no dey take over NCC role but dey add value, while NCC too dey support NDPC mandate.
Olatunji describe telecom sector as strategic to Nigeria development, noting say almost every Nigerian get at least one phone line, meaning say telecom operators dey hold massive personal data.
He say di MoU na product of months of engagement between di two agencies and no suppose be treated as mere ceremony.
On im own part, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Mr Aminu Maida, say di agreement reflect how di role of telecom regulator don expand for today data-driven economy.
He note say NCC don successfully oversee Nigeria telecom growth from about 500,000 phone lines to nearly 200 million active lines, connecting over 100 million unique subscribers.
According to am, di sector don move beyond just connecting people to enabling businesses, citizens and emerging technologies like automation and artificial intelligence.
Maida stress say data na di backbone of new technologies, and regulators must ensure say citizens still get control over dia personal information.
He warn say many people no dey realise say when digital platforms appear “free,” dem dey actually pay with dia data.
He add say poor data governance fit threaten national sovereignty, especially as artificial intelligence systems depend on large volumes of user data to function properly.
