The National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has announced plans to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tackle data breaches ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, according to the National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji.
Speaking with journalists, Dr Olatunji revealed that the Commission also intends to engage all registered political parties by providing structured training on the lawful processing of personal data in the run-up to the elections.
He explained that traditional institutions would also be incorporated into the Commission’s awareness campaign as part of efforts to deepen understanding of data privacy and protection across all sectors of Nigerian society.
Under Dr Olatunji’s leadership, the NDPC, established by the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, has recorded notable achievements. These include the registration of more than 7,000 Data Protection Officers, the auditing of hundreds of organisations, and the imposition of sanctions on entities found to have violated data privacy regulations.
The Commission has also established Nigeria’s first Data Privacy Academy, aimed at developing a globally competitive workforce of data privacy professionals.
Speaking on Nigeria’s position in the global digital economy, Dr Olatunji noted that the country is witnessing a growing culture of data privacy. He said the Commission’s long-term objective is to make Nigeria an attractive destination for digital investment by ensuring that the privacy rights of citizens and lawful residents are adequately protected.
Looking ahead, he identified Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cross-border data transfers as emerging areas requiring increased regulatory attention. According to him, the Commission’s approach will focus on supporting innovation while ensuring compliance with data protection standards.
He added that stakeholders have advocated amendments to the Data Protection Act to accommodate emerging technologies under what has been described as the “Natural Adoption Law”.
Dr Olatunji further identified low levels of awareness of data privacy among solution providers, software developers and end users as a major challenge that must be addressed to support Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
