NDPC Generates Over N400 Million Through Data Protection Compliance Efforts
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has reported a significant milestone in its efforts to ensure data protection compliance, having generated over N400 million through its enforcement actions and remedial measures.
This announcement was made by the NDPC National Commissioner, Vincent Olatunji, during a news conference in Abuja to commemorate the 2024 Global Data Privacy Day. Olatunji highlighted the commission’s achievements in the past year, emphasizing its role in enforcing the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.
Olatunji noted that the NDPC had made substantial progress in implementing the NDPA, including the inauguration of the Nigeria Data Protection Act – General Application and Implementation Directive (GAID) Drafting Committee. He highlighted the collaboration between the commission’s technical experts and industry stakeholders in driving this process.
In terms of complaints and investigations, Olatunji revealed that the NDPC had received over 1,000 complaints, with 50 verified cases currently under investigation. These cases span various sectors such as finance, technology, education, consulting, government, logistics, and gaming/lottery. Through the resolution of these cases, the commission has generated over N400 million in revenue for the government.
Furthermore, the NDPC has focused on increasing compliance by expanding the number of Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs) from 103 to 163. Annual audit filings have also risen to over 2,000 per annum, contributing to a cumulative revenue estimate of N6.2 billion in the sector and the creation of approximately 10,100 jobs.
Olatunji highlighted Nigeria’s admission to the Global Privacy Assembly, a significant achievement that reflects the country’s commitment to global data protection standards. He emphasized the commission’s dedication to raising awareness among data controllers and processors about the importance of registering with the NDPC as required by the NDPA.
In closing, Olatunji stressed the importance of everyone taking responsibility for data protection, warning that non-compliance with the law would result in penalties. He affirmed that both public and private sector organizations must respect citizens’ data privacy and prevent the activities of criminal exploiters of personal data, ensuring that Nigerians are not treated as second-class citizens in this regard.
People’s Gazette
