Nigeria’s federal government has ordered Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to tighten the way they collect, store and share citizens’ personal information, in its strongest move yet to enforce data protection rules across the public sector as digital government services expand.
The directive, contained in a circular signed by George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), requires every federal MDA to comply fully with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023 and related regulations issued by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
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The move comes as government agencies increasingly rely on digital platforms to deliver services ranging from identity management and healthcare to taxation, education, immigration and social welfare, placing vast amounts of Nigerians’ personal data under public institutions.
The circular cites President Bola Tinubu’s directive that data is the new oil, stressing that information must be collected carefully and protected under the country’s data protection law.
