Nigeria affirms $1trn digital economy anchored on trust, data security and shared prosperity

*Dr. ’Bosun Tijani, Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, and other stakeholders in the communications sector, opine that Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy in years ahead will be achieved, if digital growth cum transformation is anchored on trust, data protection and shared prosperity

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said the country’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy in few years ahead will be achieved, if digital growth and transformation is anchored on citizens’ trust, data protection and shared prosperity.

ConsumerConnect reports Dr. ’Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, stated thus Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at a press conference to mark Global Privacy Day 2026, in Abuja, FCT.

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Speaking at the event organised by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr. Tijani said: “When we lose trust in this sector, people will be discouraged from actually relying on some of the tools that we hope can transform into economic growth.

“If we can maintain trust, citizens must trust that personal data in Nigeria is respected, protected, and used appropriately, and NDPC is central to building that trust.”

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The Minister, however, assured stakeholders that “together, we will build a digital Nigeria that is innovative, inclusive, and safe.”

Tijani also explained that digital technology must serve as an enabler of shared prosperity, ensuring that every segment of society benefits from digital transformation in the West African country.

According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has demonstrated his administration’s commitment early by signing the Nigeria Data Protection Act into law.

Tijani said President Tinubu’s deed was a clear signal that Nigerians’ rights, dignity, and personal data must be protected as the country accelerates its digital transformation process.

In his address on the occasion, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of NDPC, highlighted the Commission’s attainments, said the day was designated to raise awareness of data privacy and protection.

On NDPC’s efforts at data handling, ethical use of emerging techs

Dr. Olatunji said the event was to educate citizens on privacy in the digital era, promote responsible data handling, and ethical use of emerging technologies.

Among other achievements, Olatunji disclosed the generation of over ₦5.2 billion in compliance revenue, with Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem valued at over ₦16.2 billion.

In terms of regulatory oversight, the National Commissioner of NDPC noted the Commission has expanded compliance monitoring across the public and private sectors, with 38,677 registered data controllers and data processors, all of which are of major importance under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.

He equally said 307 Data Protection Compliance Organisations had been licensed, over 8,155 compliance audit returns had been filed, and 246 data protection and privacy breach investigations had been concluded, resulting in 11 enforcement actions, including fines and remediation directives.

Besides, NDPC issued the general application and implementation directive, translated the NDPA into three major Nigerian languages, and issued compliance notices to 1,348 entities across the banking, insurance, pension, and gaming sectors.

The data management ecosystem as well created 23,000 jobs, and gained the Commission several international recognitions, among other achievements, stated he.

Olatunji said: “We are going to increase awareness creation to promote a deeper understanding of data protection and privacy across Nigeria and provide guidance and support to organisations on data protection best practices.

“We are going to engage in capacity building and certify professionals through the National Data Protection Officer Certification to meet global standards in data protection practices.”

Innovation, privacy are pillars for sustainable digital future, says Inuwa

In his remarks at the briefing, Dr. Kashifu Inuwa ABdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said Nigeria’s data protection ecosystem had gained global recognition through policy reforms and NDPC’s work.

Inuwa emphasised that said innovation and privacy are not competing values, but complementary pillars of a sustainable digital future in the country.

The Director-General of the Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency, therefore, urged stronger collaboration among regulators, private-sector players, academia, and civil society to deepen the implementation of privacy-by-design principles and ethical data use across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

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