NCC and Data Commission Move to Stop Exploitation
By Patience Ikpeme
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have joined forces to make sure that the personal information Nigerians provide to telecommunications companies is safe and not used without their permission.
The two agencies signed a new agreement on Thursday at the NCC headquarters in Abuja. This partnership is meant to stop companies from using people’s data anyhow and to make sure the rules for data privacy are clear across the country.
During the event, the head of the NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, explained that since the telecoms sector is one of the biggest parts of Nigeria’s economy, it is the most important place to start protecting people’s privacy. He said that while digital services bring many benefits, they also come with risks to personal information.
Dr. Olatunji noted that the NCC and the NDPC sometimes have similar jobs when it comes to data. He said this new agreement will help them work together without clashing, so they can better protect Nigerians’ privacy and keep the digital economy safe.
“In Nigeria, the rapid expansion of telecommunications and digital services has created both opportunities and risks. The NCC and the NDPC share overlapping responsibilities in ensuring that citizens’ personal information is secure,” Dr. Olatunji said.
The head of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, expressed his happiness with the deal. He told Nigerians that they must learn their rights over their own data so that nobody can take advantage of them. He warned that even when a social media platform or an app says it is “free,” the user is actually paying with their personal information.
“Somebody is monetising your data. But it is going to get to a point where you, too, should also have your rights to either say, yes, you can use it, or no, you cannot use it. When they say you are using the platform for free, it’s not really free,” Dr. Maida said.
He explained that the world is moving toward a time where people will have “data unions” to protect their information, just like workers have labour unions. He said the steps the government is taking today are to make sure that in the future, Nigerians can control their own information and that the country’s digital space remains independent.
Dr. Maida encouraged everyone to be aware of the information they generate every time they go online or make a call. He said if people don’t know their rights, others will continue to make money from their personal details without giving them anything in return.
With this new agreement, both agencies have promised to work as a team to ensure that phone companies follow the law and that the private information of every Nigerian remains truly private.
