On Friday, June 19, 2026, the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity took significant steps to bolster Nigeria’s digital economy. The Senate is nearing passage of the National Digital Economy and E-Government Bill, while the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched a collaborative initiative to enhance data privacy across key sectors.
These twin developments, aimed at modernizing Nigeria’s legal infrastructure and securing electronic transactions, were highlighted during separate high-level stakeholder events in Abuja.
Speaking at the 20th-anniversary celebration of Galaxy Backbone, Senator Shuaib Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, announced that the National Digital Economy and E-Government Bill is in its final legislative stage. Once enacted, the bill will grant electronic records and digital signatures the exact same legal validity as traditional paper documents.
To ensure this expanding digital landscape remains secure, Senator Salisu revealed that the Senate is simultaneously amending the Cybercrime Act. He emphasized that an unprotected digital space is akin to a major highway left vulnerable to armed robbers.
Government agencies must stop operating in silos. We need a unified Digital Public Infrastructure where federal parastatals synergize. For instance, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) offices across all local councils should be converted into digital service hubs to bring these advancements to the grassroots.
Senator Shuaib Salisu.
Senator Salisu also paid tribute to Jigawa State for pioneering the foundational digital template that inspired the creation of Galaxy Backbone 20 years ago under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Echoing the importance of digital infrastructure, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, stated that Nigeria’s economic competitiveness and public service delivery are entirely dependent on digital technology. He reaffirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” prioritizes innovation to drive institutional efficiency and transparency.
In a parallel effort to secure Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, the NDPC has initiated steps to draft sector-specific data protection frameworks, with a primary focus on the telecommunications, hospitality, and financial services sectors.
At a stakeholder engagement session in Abuja, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and CEO of the NDPC, emphasized that the Commission is adopting a collaborative “co-creation” approach rather than imposing rigid regulations from above.
Key Highlights from the NDPC Stakeholder Engagement:
Collaborative Rule-Making: Operators, regulators, and industry experts are involved from the drafting stage to ensure guidelines reflect the practical realities of each sector.
Sector-Specific Risk Management: Industry expert Rex Abitogun (Management Edge) noted that a one-size-fits-all framework is ineffective, as different sectors process varied types of personal data with distinct risk profiles.
Sovereignty & Security: Cybersecurity expert Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola raised vital warnings regarding the risks of heavy reliance on foreign digital platforms and cross-border data flows.
Enforcing Privacy Rights: Babatunde Bamigboye, NDPC’s Head of Legal, Enforcement, and Regulations, reiterated that the engagement is vital to translating Nigeria’s overarching data protection laws into practical, sector-based compliance tools.
Together, these legislative and regulatory milestones signal a unified front by the Nigerian government to establish a secure, legally backed, and highly integrated digital economy.
