Nigeria's Senate and House Push for Stronger Data Protection Law

The Senate and House committees are pushing for a stronger data protection law in Nigeria in response to emerging cyber threats driven by rapid technological advancements. Senator Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, disclosed this during the opening of a three-day workshop on data protection awareness in Abuja.

The workshop, organized in partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and development partners, aims to enhance lawmakers' understanding of data privacy protection. Salisu noted the necessity of reviewing and strengthening the provisions of the National Data Protection Act of 2023, particularly in areas concerning artificial intelligence and international cybercrime regulation.

He emphasized that legislators must build their capacity in data privacy and cybersecurity to make informed legislative decisions. Hon. Stanlei Olajid, Chairman of the House Committee on ICT, described data as Nigeria's new gold and stressed that a robust data protection law is essential for attracting foreign investment, urging that local generated data be treated as a national asset.