The Chairman of the Nigerian Senate Committee on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Cybersecurity, Shuaib Salisu Afolabi, has confirmed that plans are underway for the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill to go through its first public hearing.
The lawmaker disclosed this when he delivered his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Multi-Country Data Governance Study Tour hosted by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Afolabi, who confirmed that the bill had already passed its second reading, expressed optimism that it will provide a comprehensive legal framework for Nigeria’s burgeoning digital economy, covering electronic transactions, data protection, cyber security, and digital infrastructure.
According to him, “At the national assembly, we have come with a bill that has come through second reading, and very soon we’ll be having a public hearing on the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill.
“And the essence of this bill is to remove legal uncertainty about electronic transactions. Some of our laws are still analogue. We now recognise some of the electronic transactions that take place.
“The second part of the bill is also to mandate government organisations to digitise their business processes.
“How do you play a role in the artificial intelligence era if your processes are still manual? How do you take advantage of digital public infrastructure if you are still running manuals? How do you ensure interoperability between government agencies if you are still running manuals?
So the essence of this bill, which has gone through second reading, is certainly that it has representatives. And by the grace of God, we intend that it should be passed into law before the year runs out.”
The Senator also confirmed that the National Assembly is developing a new cybersecurity law to address some of the challenges the country is facing in its cyberspace.
“You cannot have a digital economy if you don’t have a secure cyberspace. Therefore, the Nigerian legislature is also working on a new cybersecurity and cybercrime law that has taken into consideration the new UN Convention on Cybercrimes.”
The National Commissioner of NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, in his remarks, called for collaboration within African countries on data protection, information sharing, and joint efforts to promote compliance with data protection laws.
“We should also look at the space, the opportunity in Africa, and what we can do to cooperate and have a common government structure. It is really, really important. Talking to the African Union, I was a member of the team that worked on the EU Data Policy Framework, which was adopted in Ethiopia.
“This is a major framework that we need to really domesticate in different countries.
“When we get back to our different countries, let’s try and see how we can organise different teams, different organisations and try to impart knowledge.”
In his remarks, Felix Reinhold from the German Embassy in Nigeria reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting Africa’s digital transformation.
Germany supports this process together with the European Union and fellow member states. This engagement is part of our broader commitment to building strong foundations for Africa’s digital transformation.
Through the Data Governance in Africa initiative, with contributions from Germany, Finland, Belgium, France, Estonia, and the EU, we are investing in data policy, data value creation, and data infrastructure.
“We believe that Africa’s data should remain in Africa’s hands. This means not only protecting the rights and privacy of citizens, but also ensuring that the value generated from data contributes to local innovation, sustainable development, and the well-being of African societies. At the same time, we must guard against data monopolies,” he added.
The study tour brought together delegations from Tanzania, Mozambique, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Eswatini and Botswana.
It is expected that the gathering will provide a unique platform to share experiences, exchange lessons, and strengthen continental cooperation on data governance.