Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami has identified Nigeria as arguably the first Africa country with data protection regulation, saying data under the Federal Government is 99.9% secured due to it data protection regulation.
Speaking at the NITDA 20thAnniversary lecture and Unveiling of NITDA Strategic Road Map 2021-2024 in Abuja, he tasked the agency to intensify its efforts in the IT clearance of public sectors. About N24.65 billion was said to have been saved by the agency through IT clearance projects of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
He said, “When it comes to IT surveillance we need to increase more, so that we will able to fight corruption through reducing the price of IT executed by the federal public institutions.”
On data regulations, he said, “We need to improve when it comes to Nigeria data protection regulation, this is subsidiary legislation. Nigeria arguably is the first country in Africa to have Nigeria data protection regulations in place. Nigeria was the first to come up with a subsidiary legislation that is why when it comes to data privacy, data security Nigeria is in the forefront.”
Pantami however, charged the agency to create more awareness with regards to Nigeria data protection regulation and what it contained.
In his welcome remark, Director General NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa said the agency was established to implement the Nigeria National IT policy, has delivered 100% with higher and deeper impacts on the economy.
According to him “Now, we talk of resilience because NITDA sees digital technologies as a source of inspiration to reinvent and meet the digital age challenges in an increasingly dynamic and competitive world.
“There is no doubt that NITDA has made a difference and touched the lives of more than 2.5 million Nigerians. Our impact is visible across the country, and this can be attested to by the outcomes. Just recently, our sector, the ICT sector bailed Nigeria out of a covid-induced recession that was predicted to crush the Nigerian spirit.
“We have attracted more foreign investments into the digital economy sector than any developing country globally. Our developmental regulations have created new economic industry such as business process outsourcing, data protection and a robust software industry.”
He said, despite the modest achievements recorded by the Agency, “we are not oblivious of the multi-dimensional challenges confronting our country. But we believe there is a silver lining for innovation to create prosperity for all. We have an excellent opportunity to leapfrog into the future through the 4th industrial revolution.
“We are blessed with the most prominent black diaspora, resilient and resourceful youths, solid and diverse culture, abundant natural resources etc. The NITDA of the next decade is prepared to act as an institutional catalyst to actualise the long-held dream of every Nigerian to build a Nation where peace, prosperity and justice shall reign.”