The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have joined forces to enhance data management and fortify safeguards within the nation’s oil and gas sector.
The partnership is also to address key issues and concerns surrounding data protection and privacy within the Nigerian oil and gas industry.
These were among the pivotal topics deliberated during an advocacy visit led by Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and his team from NDPC to meet with Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Komolafe, represented by the Executive Commissioner, of Corporate Services and Administration, Dr Kelechi Ofoegbu, described the partnership as pivotal for ensuring operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder trust.
The NUPRC boss said the NUPRC seeks to establish robust frameworks and protocols tailored to the unique requirements of the oil and gas domain.
He underscored the necessity for heightened data security measures in response to the swift digitization of operations within the oil and gas sector. Emphasizing the imperative to safeguard data, he cited their ongoing efforts to ensure robust data protection, noting the absence of breaches thus far.
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Dr. Ofoegbu mentioned the establishment of a data protection centre in Lagos and expressed readiness to share their data protection policies while seeking guidance from NDPC, as he expressed interest in collaborating with NDPC on capacity-building initiatives.
In response, Dr. Olatunji commended the acknowledgement of the NDPC’s mandate and stressed the significance of data protection and privacy.
The National Commissioner outlined the potential consequences of non-compliance with the Data Protection Act and emphasised the necessity for NUPRC to have a privacy policy on their websites and appoint a Data Protection Officer.
He decried the low compliance within the oil and gas sector, stressing the urgency of a proposed capacity-building initiative aimed at enhancing awareness and promoting adherence to regulations.
