The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening the enforcement of data privacy and protection within Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
A statement by the NCC’s Head of Public Affairs, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, said the MoU provides a structured framework for both agencies to formalise their shared commitment to data protection and enhanced regulatory collaboration in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Speaking at the signing, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Aminu Maida, said data protection and privacy regulations are increasingly critical to the future of the communications industry. He noted that effective regulation of data is essential to sustaining trust, innovation and growth, especially as Nigeria advances further into the digital and artificial intelligence era.
Dr. Maida reaffirmed the NCC’s commitment to working closely with the NDPC to safeguard the privacy rights of Nigerians while maintaining a resilient and forward looking communications network. He highlighted the sector’s growth, noting that Nigeria has expanded from about 500,000 connected telephone lines to over 170 million active connections, underscoring the Commission’s role in driving connectivity, business growth, innovation and national development.
According to him, the next phase of growth lies in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, which depend largely on data generated by users of digital platforms. He stressed that data belongs to individuals and that citizens must be aware of the data they generate and the rights attached to it, warning that lack of awareness could lead to data being monetised without users’ consent or benefit.
“The future is data. If we do not get the principles of how we govern it right, even our national sovereignty could be undermined,” Dr. Maida said.
He further described data as a critical element of national sovereignty, noting that for artificial intelligence to remain relevant and beneficial to Nigeria, the country must continue to generate fresh, locally relevant data within a trusted regulatory environment.
In his remarks, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, described the MoU as vital to protecting Nigerians’ data. He said effective implementation of data protection within any sector requires close collaboration with the sector regulator.
“We are not taking over the mandate of the telecom regulator. We are adding value to what you are doing, and you add value to what we are doing,” he said.
Dr. Olatunji added that the NDPC does not intend for the agreement to remain inactive, stressing the need for immediate implementation to ensure Nigerians’ data privacy and protection are adequately safeguarded.
He noted that coordination and collaboration are central to the NDPC’s regulatory approach and expressed confidence that the partnership with the NCC would enhance data governance in the communications sector through shared knowledge, expertise and capacity building.
Both agencies acknowledged their overlapping responsibilities in securing citizens’ personal information and emphasised the importance of streamlining regulatory processes to avoid duplication of roles, ensure clarity and strengthen data protection in Nigeria’s communications sector.