S4C commend   President Tinubu for  signing Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 into Law

Stanley Ihedigbo

Spaces for Change (S4C) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing into law of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.

According to the the group Executive Director, Ms.   Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, this landmark legislation provides a robust legal framework for the protection of personal information and the practice of data protection in Nigeria.

“At the core of data protection legislation is the ambition to protect individuals’ right to informational privacy through a series of
measures designed to curb unauthorized access or disclosure of personal information and incidences of data breaches in a growing and progressively volatile data environment.

“The Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, is a major milestone in safeguarding the privacy and fundamental rights of individuals. With the establishment of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which replaces the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), this law strengthens the regulatory oversight of personal data processing in the country. This legislation will play a crucial role in safeguarding the rights of data subjects and providing effective recourse and remedies in the event of breaches”, she said.

The Executive Director explained that it  places obligations on data controllers and processors to fulfill their responsibilities towards data subjects.

Additionally, she said that the establishment of an impartial, independent, and effective
regulatory commission will provide robust supervision and oversight of data protection and privacy matters.

“We  commends the federal government and all stakeholders involved in the passage and signing of this significant legislation. We believe that the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, will serve as a catalyst for a secure and privacy-respecting digital ecosystem in our country. It is our hope that the ethos contained in this legislation will be upheld in all situations, including conflict, tensions, riots, protests and other forms of dissension.

“Situations like this have often been used by previous governments as impetus to infringe on citizen’s
right to privacy and ability to express and associate freely. As an organization dedicated to promoting human rights and digital freedoms, Spaces for Change remains committed to collaborating with all stakeholders in the implementation and effective enforcement of this law. We
will continue to advocate for the promotion and protection of digital rights”, Ibezim-Ohaeri Assured .