The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has commenced a comprehensive investigation into 1,369 organisations suspected of flouting provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.
A statement issued on Monday by the commission’s Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations Department, Mr. Babatunde Bamigboye, indicated that the probe was targeted companies in sensitive industries such as banking, insurance, pensions, gaming, and insurance brokerage.
According to him, the commission has also given the companies, which include 795 financial institutions, 21 days to submit evidence of compliance with the NDPA or face sanctions.
Bamigboye further stated that list of the companies also comprised 392 insurance broker firms, 35 insurance companies, 10 pension companies, and 136 gaming companies.
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While stressing that the latest move by the commission aligns with the NDPC’s mandate to protect the rights and freedoms of data subjects under the 1999 Constitution while strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy, the legal expert maintained that responsible use of personal data is crucial to the country’s credible participation in both regional and global markets.
Bamigboye listed some of the requirements the affected companies were expected to comply with as including filing their 2024 compliance audit returns, appointing a Data Protection Officer with full contact details, outlining technical and organisational data protection measures, and confirming registration as a data controller or processor of major importance.
He stated: “These organisations are required to within 21 days of issuance provide evidence of filing NDP Act Compliance Audit Returns for 2024, evidence of designation or appointment of a Data Protection Officer, including name and contact details.
“They are also to provide summary of technical and organisational measures for data protection within the organisation and evidence of registration as a data controller or processor of major importance”, he added.
It would be recalled that the NDPC recently fined Multichoice Nigeria, the leading pay TV service provider in the country, N766.2 million for violating the NDPA 2023.
