by Jirue Akpobor
The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Dr. Bosun Tijani, has disclosed that the Federal Government is on the verge of digitising its operations to reap the benefits of the digital economy.
Tijani spoke at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday to honour Global Data Privacy Day, which has the subject “Take Control of Your Data.”
Data Privacy Day (DPD) was founded to raise awareness and promote privacy and data protection best practices, and it is now recognised in the United States, Canada, Israel, Nigeria, Qatar, and 47 European nations.
The event, which takes place over a week in Nigeria from January 28 to February 4, is intended to raise awareness and guarantee that data subjects understand their rights.
Tijani said, “A lot of gadgets we use today are interconnected which means the data we are producing daily must be protected and the people producing it too being enlightened.
“President Bola Tinubu has given us the mandate to transform public services with technology, it means a lot more of the things we do in public service will be digitalised.
“A lot of the services that citizens consume in the coming months, years will also be digitalised.
“There may be dangers as we collect and share data, so there is a need for us as government agencies to protect the data appropriately, we need to invest in innovative ways to protect data.’’
According to him, NDPC will be able to fulfil that duty, while Galaxy BackBone will help administer the data exchange system and guarantee it adheres to established laws.
The minister also stated that companies that manufacture digital gadgets must take responsibility for ensuring that the data they acquire about people is secure.
He noted that the week would be focused on enlightenment because there is a significant knowledge gap in data protection.
“The knowledge is lacking because there is no capacity and it is a new way of doing things and we need to consider behavioural change,’’ he said.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity Stanley Adedeji, stated that the National Assembly will ensure compliance with its data collection methods.
“In performing our constitutional duties as legislators, we collect a lot of data, we have to make sure the mode in which we collect data is in compliance with the Data Privacy law.
“This means that we must automate the process of our interaction with MDAs and other organisations,’’ he said.
Adedeji also advised organisations to be cooperative and not choose the path of litigation if found liable.
According to him, the data protection ecosystem is still in its early stages of growth, and all institutions should participate in the process.
He went on to say that capacity building is required for people to become aware of data protection rules as well as to modify their attitudes towards data privacy.
He pledged the National Assembly’s support for legislation and collaboration, including revising laws to make the NDPC more effective and transparent.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, NDPC’s National Commissioner, remembered that they prepared a five-year Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan with five pillars in 2023.
Olatunji stated that they were able to complete two of the roadmap’s three most difficult targets within one year, except the awareness component, which required substantial capacity building.
“The commission is keen on building a globally competitive pool of Data Protection Officers (DPOs) who will be able to discharge the duties required of them under Section 332 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).
“We have identified at least 500,000 data controllers and data processors who need qualified DPOs in order to meet their obligation under the law.
“We cannot afford to subject this pool to compulsory foreign certifications as this will put pressure on our local currency and defeat the aims and objectives of Federal Government’s Executive Orders 003 and 005.
“We have concluded arrangements for the licensing of an indigenous certification body with global standard and international spread to fill the gap,’’ he said.