“Tightens rules on citizens’ personal data collection

By Prince Osuagwu

Nigeria has officially agreed that data is the new face of the country’s economic rennaissance after President, Bola Tinubu admitted that data is the new oil.

The new development sees government appearing to favour data governance as the best way to get the country’s economy thriving again.

To prove that point, the Government is tightening the rules on how citizens’ personal information is collected, stored and protected across public institutions.

Perhaps, in strengthening confidence in government digital services, the president has just directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to fully comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act)

This directive alone, reinforces a country willing to make responsible data governance a cornerstone of public administration.

The directive is contained in Circular No. 59805/S.I/74, dated July 27, 2026, and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.

At the heart of the circular is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s growing emphasis on the strategic value of data in today’s economy.

“Data is the new oil: its value increases the more it is refined and responsibly shared,” the President stated. He further directed all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Agencies to capture information rigorously while safeguarding it in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.

The message is clear: as government increasingly embraces digital platforms, protecting citizens’ personal information must become everyone’s responsibility.

To make that happen, every MDA has been instructed to appoint qualified Data Protection Officers (DPOs) who will champion privacy compliance within their organisations. The officers are to be registered with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), while agencies may also engage licensed Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs) to support audits and other statutory obligations.

The circular further requires government institutions to make adequate budgetary provisions for staff training, public awareness, deployment of appropriate security technologies and regular compliance audits. They are also expected to submit mandatory Data Protection Compliance Audit Returns within the timelines prescribed by law.

In a move that underscores the seriousness of the directive, the government made it clear that Permanent Secretaries, Accounting Officers and Chief Executive Officers of MDAs will be personally accountable for ensuring compliance with both the circular and the provisions of the NDP Act.

Welcoming the development, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, described the circular as another strong signal of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the privacy and fundamental freedoms of Nigerians.
According to him, responsible data governance has become indispensable as Nigeria pursues the eight Presidential Priorities and builds a modern digital economy.

To help MDAs meet the new expectations, the Commission has established a regulatory clinic that will provide technical guidance, answer compliance questions and support institutions on their journey towards full compliance.

Beyond being another government circular, the directive reflects Nigeria’s determination to treat personal data as a national asset—one that must be protected with the same seriousness as the digital economy it is helping to build. As artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital public services continue to reshape governance, trust in how citizens’ data is handled may prove to be one of the country’s most valuable currencies.

This version reads more like a technology feature than a government announcement. It opens with why the directive matters to ordinary Nigerians, uses smoother transitions, and ends with a forward-looking perspective, making it more engaging for readers without sacrificing the factual content.