The implementation of Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) by the Federal Government has generated over 2,686 jobs within one year after its launch in 2019, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has said.
Pantami spoke in Abuja on Friday at the presentation of NDPR Performance Report 2019-2020.
“I am proud to see that we have through the NDPR added 2,686 job roles, thereby creating massive opportunities for young Nigerians to be recruited as Data Protection Officers, Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs), Compliance officers among others. The DPCOs have also earned over N2 billion in the first year of implementation. This is the intent of our digital economy policy- empowering Nigerians in a way that ensures global competitiveness,” the minister said.
According to him, the integrity of the digital economy relies, to a large extent, on the integrity and protection of data.
To this end, he said, the NDPR supports in the development of Nigeria’s digital economy.
He however said NITDA, as the data protection authority, has his ministry’s full support to ensure entities who wantonly breach personal data are brought to book as soon as possible.
“I am aware of some quick loan service providers who use personal data to defame and threaten their customers, such issues should be looked into in line with the NDPR. I also want to state that non-filing of data protection audit is a violation of the law. Enforcement of this provision would be more vigorously pursued going forward”, he said.
He also advised NITDA to increase regulatory oversight over current DPCOs and carefully consider current pending applications in line with its published criteria and processes.
In his welcome address, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said the agency had Licensed 70 Data Protection Compliance Organisations.
According to him, data protection sector is currently valued at N2,295,240,000 (using the median value of audit implementation cost).
He said the Federal Government had earned the sum of N12,650,000 from DPCO licensing and audit report filing.
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