Nigeria steps up efforts to secure personal data online
Nigeria’s digital space is expanding rapidly, with over 100 million internet users and growing economic activity. However, this growth has increased risks of identity theft, fraud, and privacy violations. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) is working to make the digital environment safer and more accountable. Recent enforcement actions and new regulations aim to protect citizens and build trust in digital systems.
What we know
- Internet penetration in Nigeria reached 50.58 per cent in November 2025, up from 45.61 per cent in January.
- The Nigeria Data Protection Act became effective on 12 June 2023, creating the NDPC as an independent authority.
- In August 2025, the NDPC issued a 21-day compliance notice to over 1,360 organisations suspected of violating data protection laws.
- Multichoice Nigeria was fined N766.2m and Fidelity Bank was fined N555.8m for data privacy violations under the new Act.
- In 2024, the NDPC investigated over 213 privacy violation reports, and the sector generated N12bn in government revenue, creating 23,000 jobs.
