The Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) has kickstarted efforts in the full implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) of the present administration under the supervisory Ministry of Communications and Digital Technology by collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in upscaling the privacy of citizens’ data to earn their trust.
The NDPB National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, who made this known during his working visit to the headquarters of NIMC last week in Abuja, said that the commission, which is the highest data controller in the country, should be a model for other data controllers since data is the foundation of everything in the country’s digital economy.
During his visit where he met with the NIMC Director-General, Mr Abdulaziz Aliyu Abubakar, and his management team, Olatunji averred that privacy of data is an essential element in the process of achieving proper identification of citizens.
“There is nothing you would want to do in the digital economy without proper identity and you can’t achieve that without adequate privacy and protection of data,” he noted.
The Nigeria’s Data Security Officer, while reiterating the dedication of his team in actualising the Bureau’s mandate, stated that creating awareness for data controllers and data processors on their obligations to data subjects is their next line of action and there was no better place to start than with NIMC.
“With the registration of the National Identification Number (NIN) in the country hitting about 80 million, I don’t know any other data controller in the country with the number of data you have uniquely, a fact which necessitated our visit here and should be a model for other data controllers to emulate in the country,” he opined.
While giving accolades to the Commission for the job done so far in ensuring all Nigerians have an identity, Olatunji, however, stated that the best data protection practices must be adopted in the handling of citizenry data to meet global standards.
The NDPB boss, who asserted that there was no perfect system, urged the Commission to constantly review their processes, data privacy and upscale areas where necessary.
He further admonished the Commission to align with the Nigerian Data Protection Regulations (NDPR) which is the subsidiary legislation in terms of data protection in the country, while buttressing the need for data minimisation in ensuring a seamless process for citizens who want their data updated.
“In terms of filing annual audit reports, we want NIMC to demonstrate that leadership by filing with us as enshrined in the NDPR to serve as an example to all data controllers because you are the biggest data controller”, he stated.
Abdulaziz, in his welcome remark, applauded the Bureau for its efforts thus far in ensuring the privacy and protection of Nigerians’ data and disclosed that the Commission is an advocate of data protection as well.
Revealing the mandate of the Commission to come up with a database of all citizens, legal residents in the country and harmonising all discrete databases, the DG stated that the NIN would help mitigate crime and fight insecurity in the country.