NDPC Pushes Data Protection Law Review to Regulate AI and Strengthen Privacy Rules in Nigeria
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) is moving to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, signaling a major shift in how the country plans to regulate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and big data. The proposed review comes amid rising concerns over privacy, cybersecurity risks, and data governance challenges in an increasingly digital economy.
According to the Commission, the current law no longer fully reflects today’s fast-evolving tech ecosystem. Speaking during the third anniversary of the NDPA, NDPC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, explained that the legal framework was drafted before AI became mainstream, making it necessary to update key provisions to reflect current realities.
He noted that technologies once considered futuristic have now become central to everyday services and economic systems across sectors such as banking, telecommunications, healthcare, education, and public administration. As a result, regulators must now move beyond general references and clearly define how emerging technologies should be governed.
Stakeholders across the tech and policy space have welcomed the planned review, saying it could help establish clearer rules around automated decision-making, algorithmic accountability, data ownership, and cross-border data transfers. Lawmakers are also reportedly reviewing the legislation to align it with new cyber threats and digital innovation trends, with the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity already engaged in related assessments.
Dr. Olatunji also cautioned against over-reliance on AI systems without human oversight, stressing that human judgment remains essential in data processing and decision-making. Analysts believe the reform could boost investor confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy by creating stronger regulatory certainty, while also increasing compliance expectations for businesses handling personal data.
source: Leadership