The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have formalised a strategic partnership to strengthen data privacy and protection across Nigeria’s fast-expanding telecommunications sector.
The collaboration comes at a time of unprecedented growth in telecoms usage, with subscriber numbers rising from about 500,000 in the early years of the industry to nearly 180 million in 2025, intensifying the need for stronger data governance and consumer protection.
On 5 February 2026, both regulators signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to promote regulatory synergy and improve the handling of data generated across telecom platforms within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. The agreement is intended to ensure that user data is managed responsibly, safeguarding privacy while still enabling innovation and growth in the digital economy.
Speaking at the signing, NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Aminu Maida, highlighted the central role of data in shaping Nigeria’s technology future, particularly as artificial intelligence adoption accelerates.
“The next phase of technology growth lies in artificial intelligence, which cannot function without the data generated by users of digital platforms. If citizens are unaware of the regulations guiding their data, someone else may monetise it. Platforms that appear free often come at the cost of user data.”
Maida further stressed that effective data governance is essential to national sovereignty, noting that a trusted regulatory environment and locally relevant data are critical to sustaining a resilient communications network and protecting the privacy rights of Nigerians.
For his part, NDPC National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said the MoU was designed to complement, rather than encroach upon, the NCC’s statutory responsibilities.
“We are not taking over the mandate of the telecom regulator. We are adding value to what you are doing, and you add value to what we are doing.”
According to Olatunji, the agreement will also enable both agencies to build shared capacity, reinforcing Nigeria’s broader data protection framework and improving regulatory coordination within the telecoms sector.
Under the MoU, the NCC and NDPC will work together to enhance data governance in telecom operations, protect the personal data of Nigerians, and deepen compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. The Act provides for mandatory data protection audits, clear user consent and transparency requirements, data breach notification within 72 hours, and stronger protection of data subject rights.
The partnership reflects Nigeria’s wider push to safeguard digital rights as telecom expansion, artificial intelligence deployment and digital service adoption continue to accelerate. Through closer collaboration, both regulators aim to create a balanced regulatory environment that supports innovation while strengthening security and user privacy, positioning Nigeria as a trusted hub for digital services in Africa.
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