The National Assembly has officially commenced a legislative review of the National Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023. The move aims to fortify Nigeria’s digital defenses against sophisticated cyber threats and the rapid global rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The announcement was made by Senator Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, during the opening of a specialized three-day workshop on Data Protection Awareness in Abuja. The session, organized for the Joint National Assembly Committee on ICT, is a collaborative effort between the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and Ampersand Development Partners.
Senator Salisu emphasized that while the NDPA was enacted just last year, the sheer pace of technological evolution specifically regarding AI and the new United Nations Convention against Cybercrime necessitates an immediate legislative update.
“You cannot effectively legislate in an area where you lack sufficient knowledge,” Senator Salisu stated. “This workshop is designed to equip legislators with modern principles of data protection. We are assessing the law’s effectiveness over the past three years to ensure it meets our current digital and security needs.”
At the conclusion of the workshop, the Committee expects to unveil a formal roadmap and timeline for the amendment process.
Echoing the need for reform, Hon. Stanley Olajide, Chairman of the House Committee on ICT, characterized data as a strategic national asset and the primary driver of Nigeria’s future economic prosperity.
Key highlights from Hon. Olajide’s address included:
Investment Attraction: Robust legal frameworks are a prerequisite for serious foreign investors who require guaranteed data privacy safeguards.
Data Sovereignty: A call for all data generated within Nigeria to be secured strictly under Nigerian laws, mirroring the stringent protections seen in jurisdictions like the United States.
Economic Security: Treating personal and corporate data as a high value resource similar to “gold.”
Beyond legislative action, the National Assembly is urging Nigerian citizens to adopt a more proactive stance toward personal digital security. As the government moves to tighten regulatory frameworks, lawmakers stressed that individual consciousness remains the first line of defense in an increasingly interconnected world.
The proposed amendments seek to harmonize Nigeria’s data governance with international best practices, ensuring the nation remains a secure and competitive player in the global digital economy.
