The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen regulatory cooperation and strengthen data protection and privacy enforcement in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
The agreement, signed against the backdrop of Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy, establishes a structured framework for collaboration, information sharing, and coordinated regulation of data governance within the communications industry.
CEO of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida remarks
Speaking at the signing, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, said data protection and privacy have become central to the future of the communications industry, particularly as Nigeria transitions deeper into the digital and artificial intelligence (AI) era.
Maida noted that effective regulation of data is essential to sustaining trust, innovation, and growth in the sector, stressing that the NCC remains committed to working closely with the Nigerian Data Protection Commission to ensure the privacy rights of Nigerians are adequately protected while maintaining a resilient and forward-looking communications network.
Highlighting the growth of the telecoms sector, Maida said Nigeria has evolved from about 500,000 connected telephone lines to over 170 million active connections, underscoring the Commission’s role not only in connecting Nigerians but also in enabling businesses, innovation, and national development.
According to him, the next phase of sectoral growth will be driven by data-dependent technologies such as AI, which rely heavily on information generated by users of digital platforms. He emphasized that data is produced by individuals and must be governed in a way that protects citizens’ rights and interests.
“People need to be aware of the data they are generating and the rights around that data. If they do not know it, somebody will monetise it. When platforms are said to be free, they are not really free—somebody is using your data,” Maida said.
He further described data as a critical component of national sovereignty, warning that poor data governance could undermine Nigeria’s strategic interests. According to him, for AI to remain relevant and beneficial to the country, Nigeria must continue to generate fresh, locally relevant data within a trusted and well-regulated environment.
National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji remarks
In his remarks, the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, described the MoU as essential for protecting the personal data of Nigerians, particularly within the highly regulated telecommunications sector.
Olatunji said effective data protection cannot be achieved in isolation, noting that collaboration with sector regulators is critical to successful implementation of the NDPC’s mandate.
“We are not taking over the mandate of the telecom regulator. We are adding value to what you are doing, and you add value to what we are doing. We do not want this MoU signed and kept on the shelf; we want immediate implementation,” he said.
He added that coordination and collaboration remain core pillars of the NDPC’s regulatory approach and expressed confidence that the partnership with the NCC would enhance data governance in the communications sector through shared expertise, capacity building, and aligned regulatory actions.
Both agencies acknowledged that their mandates intersect in areas relating to the protection of personal data within telecoms operations. The MoU, they said, is intended to streamline regulatory processes, prevent overlaps, and provide clarity in the supervision of data protection responsibilities as defined under their respective enabling laws.
The agreement marks a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s data protection framework as digital services, connectivity, and data-driven technologies continue to play an increasingly central role in the country’s economic and social development.
