By Eric Ojo
The World Bank has urged the Nigerian Government to take urgent steps towards enacting a Data Protection Law for the West African nation.
World Bank’s Country Director to Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri gave the charge while speaking at a two-day Policy Dialogue on Nigeria’s Data Protection Law, held in Abuja.
The Policy Dialogue, convened by the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, with support from Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project, had in attendance, representatives of relevant public institutions, the private sector and civil society.
ID4D project is a Nigerian project, jointly funded by The World Bank, European Investment Bank and French Development Agency. Highlights of the event which was attended by 250 participants, were panel discussions, break-out sessions, plenary, among others.
Chaudhuri, who described digital identification as key to unlocking the potentials of nations, argued that a data protection law was critical for Nigeria.
“Digital identification is key to unlocking the potential of nations. A data protection law is very critical for Nigeria. Nigeria’s potential for a digital economy is high. We are hopeful that Nigeria will be able to enact a data data protection and privacy law soon”, he said.
In his address, the Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami commended the Nigeria Digital ID4D project for supporting the event, describing data protection as very important for the country.
According to him, data has become a highly sought commodity and more people are concerned about how their data is stored, processed, and transmitted.
The minister who was represented by the Director General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Aziz, observed that a Data Protection Law would provide legal basis for challenging unlawful use of data.
Similarly, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, Dr. Vincent Olatunji assured that the proposed law will help to secure the data of citizens.
Corroborating Dr. Olatunji viewpoint, the Bureau’s Project Coordinator, Musa Odole Solomon said Data Protection was a constitutional matter, even as he made a case for a principal privacy law for Nigeria.
Solomon highlighted the benefits of digital identification, adding that the drive for citizens’ enrolment for National Identity Number, makes timely enactment of the law expedient.
“It is one thing to collate citizens’ data, and another to ensure that such data is utilized in a responsible manner. This can only be achieved through proper legislation. We need to continue to enhance the trust of the people. We must assure citizens of the security of their data”, he stressed.
Also in his remarks, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security, Senator Yakubu Oseni said the National Assembly was willing to enact a privacy law for Nigeria.
The Nigeria Immigration Service, represented by Acting Deputy Comptroller General, in charge of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dora Amahian; National Population Commission, represented by the Director General, Ugoeze Patience Mbagwu, National Information Technology Development Agency, National Pension Commission, and several other public institutions took turns to justify the need for a data protection legislation for the country.
Moreover, private sector and civil society actors as well as other participants gave their nod to the steps towards enacting a principal Data Protection law for Nigeria, noting that the enactment of such an important law for the country was long overdue.