‘Nigerians can seek remedies for breach’ — Tinubu signs data protection bill

President Bola Tinubu has signed the Nigeria data protection bill into law.

Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB), announced the signing of the bill at a workshop in Abuja on Tuesday.

The legislation allows for the establishment of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to replace the NDPB.

The commission is expected to protect citizens’ private information and be independent.

The legislation will be headed by a national commissioner with the responsibility of regulating the processing of personal information.

The legislation allows Nigerians to seek redress from any form of data breach.

The law stipulates that citizens’ personal data is “processed in a fair, lawful and accountable manner”.

On April 4, former President Muhammadu Buhari asked the national assembly to consider and pass the bill.

The former president had premised his request on section 58(2) of the constitution.

“Pursuant to section 58, sub-section 2 of the 1999 constitution as amended, I forward herewith the Nigeria data protection bill for consideration and approval of by the senate,” Buhari had said in the letter.