Following a request by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau to ensure compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation.
The approval, according to a statement on Friday by the minister’s spokesperson, Uwa Suleiman will see that the bureau focuses mainly on data protection and privacy for the country.
According to the statement, the successful implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a digital Nigeria had significantly increased the adoption of data platforms and increased the importance of having an institution that focuses on data protection and privacy.
Adding that the issuance of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation in January 2019, as subsidiary legislation to the National Information Technology Development Agency Act 2007, has also increased awareness about the need for data protection and privacy, he said the bureau would be responsible for consolidating the gains of the NDPR and supporting the process for the development of a primary legislation for data protection and privacy.
President Buhari also approved the appointment of Dr Vincent Olatunji, who was the director of the eGovernment Development and Regulations Department at NITDA, to serve as the National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the new bureau.
