By : Kazeem Adeleke , Faith Nkwoukwa & Okechukwu Okechukwu
Nigeria’s data-protection ecosystem has grown to a value exceeding N16.2 billion, underscoring the rapid expansion of compliance, enforcement and regulatory oversight alongside the country’s digital economy.
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) disclosed the figure at a recent media training workshop in Lagos, where it highlighted progress made under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.
Since the law came into force, the commission said it has significantly intensified licensing, enforcement and compliance monitoring across both public institutions and private-sector organisations, reflecting rising concern over how personal data is collected, stored and shared.
According to the NDPC, 307 Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs) have been licensed, while 38,677 data controllers and processors of major importance have been registered nationwide — a sharp increase in regulatory participation under the new legal framework.
The commission added that more than 8,155 compliance audit returns have been filed across the public and private sectors.
In terms of enforcement, the NDPC said it has concluded 246 investigations into data-privacy breaches, resulting in 11 enforcement actions, including fines and remediation orders.
High-profile cases include a N766.2m fine imposed on MultiChoice Nigeria in July 2025 for unlawful cross-border transfers of subscriber data and other violations, as well as a N555.8m penalty levied on Fidelity Bank in 2024 over improper data processing practices and the use of non-transparent tracking tools.
The commission disclosed that enforcement actions have generated N5.2bn in compliance-related revenue remitted to the federal government, noting, however, that the agency is not structured primarily as a revenue-generating institution.
Beyond revenue, the NDPC said the data-protection ecosystem has created over 23,000 jobs, contributing to employment growth as Nigeria’s digital economy continues to expand.
Speaking virtually at the event, the NDPC’s National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said the figures reflect a deliberate shift toward aggressive, enforcement-driven regulation.
He stressed that accountability and trust are central to Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion digital economy, adding that strong data-protection policies are essential for attracting foreign direct investment and enabling cross-border business partnerships.
“Enforcement is the backbone of privacy protection. By concluding 246 investigations and applying meaningful consequences, we are protecting citizens and creating the secure environment needed for innovation, foreign investment and sustainable growth,” Olatunji said.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to expanding compliance monitoring across all sectors, signalling that regulatory oversight will continue to deepen as Nigeria’s digital economy grows.
With these developments, the NDPC said Nigeria’s data-protection framework is increasingly being recognised as a key enabler of business confidence, job creation and economic growth, while providing stronger assurances of privacy and accountability for citizens and organisations alike.
