The Nigerian Data Protection Bureau has confirmed that on Monday, June 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria officially signed the Data Protection Bill into law.
The bureau estimates that the licencing of Data Protection Compliance Organisations to provide services to data controllers and processors, along with the training of Data Protection Officers, will result in the creation of about 500,000 employment.
The statement in part: “Nigeria has taken a giant leap forward in the global data race with the assent to Nigeria Data Protection Act by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Act was signed on the 12th of June 2023.
“The NDPB, pursuant to the express provisions of the new act, has transmitted into a full-fledged commission and it is mandated to among others: Regulate the deployment of technological and organisational measures to enhance personal data protection.
“Foster the development of personal data protection technologies, in accordance with recognised international best practices and applicable international law; conduct investigations into any violation of a requirement under the Act; impose penalties in respect of any violation of the provisions of the Act or subsidiary legislation made thereof.
“Where necessary, accredit, license, and register suitable persons to provide data protection compliance services; issue regulations, rules, directives, and guidance under the Act; and register data controllers and data processors of major importance.”
