The National Assembly has begun plans to amend the National Data Protection Act 2023 in response to growing cyber threats and fast-paced technological developments, especially in Artificial Intelligence.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Senator Afolabi Salisu, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a three-day Data Protection Awareness Promotion workshop organised for the Joint National Assembly Committee on ICT by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission in collaboration with Ampersand Development Partners.
Salisu explained that emerging technologies such as AI, alongside the United Nations Convention on Cyber Crimes, had created the need to revisit the current legislation to further strengthen Nigeria’s cyber security and data governance systems.
He noted that data governance and cybercrime are closely linked, making it necessary to reinforce certain aspects of the law to better secure the nation’s digital environment.
“We need to ensure the security of our country, particularly in cyberspace, while also strengthening our data governance framework in line with technological advancements such as AI,” he said.
The senator stressed that lawmakers must have adequate understanding of data privacy and protection issues in order to make effective laws.
“You cannot legislate effectively in an area where you lack sufficient knowledge. This workshop provides an opportunity for legislators to build capacity, understand modern principles of data protection and position ourselves to review the National Data Protection Act,” he stated.
He further revealed that the National Assembly would evaluate the effectiveness of the law after three years of implementation and compare Nigeria’s framework with international standards and best practices.
“At the end of this exercise, we expect to develop a roadmap and timeline for the review of the National Data Protection Act,” he added.
Salisu also advised Nigerians to be more cautious about their personal data, warning that many free public WiFi services and mobile applications secretly collect users’ information.
Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the House Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Stanley Olajide, described data as Nigeria’s “next prosperity resource,” saying the nation’s economic future would rely more on data than crude oil.
Olajide emphasised that robust data protection laws were necessary to attract foreign investors, noting that investors prefer countries with strong legal protections for data and digital assets.
“Whatever data we have is our sovereign wealth and belongs to us. We must ensure the right legal frameworks are in place so that organisations or entities that breach data protection laws can be held accountable,” he said.
Drawing parallels with practices in the United States, he highlighted the importance of ensuring that data generated within Nigeria remains protected under Nigerian laws and within the country’s jurisdiction.
