The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, (NDPC) have agreed to forge partnership and collaboration towards effecting cyber data protection in the country.
This agreement was brokered in Abuja on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 when the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji led a team of his management staff on a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede at the Commission’s corporate headquarters.
Olatunji who disclosed that the visit was for familiarization, awareness creation and to seek partnership with the EFCC towards the protection of data in the country, stated that, “Being the major data controller in the country, we are interested in how people collect, process, share and protect digital assets which is also a major challenge all over the world. That is why it is necessary to put in laws to guarantee trust and ensure cyber security, because non-protection of these data can have severe consequences including financial losses and reputational damage for Nigeria as a country.”
He lamented the low compliance level of government agencies towards data protection laws, noting that enforcement was necessary to guarantee the privacy of entities and citizens in the cyberspace. He proposed a free data protection training for the Commission’s staff.
Olukoyede in his response appreciated the team for extending a hand of fellowship to the Commission and assured the delegation of the Commission’s willingness to collaborate and partner with NDPC.
“The job you are doing is also related to our mandate, because we are meant to protect the resources of Nigerians. In whatever way you will need our support, we are ready to cooperate with you. There is a need for all MDAs to comply because as law enforcement officers, compliance to law is important to us. So, on behalf of the EFCC, I wish to state that we are going to comply. We have already activated our data protection system and I have instructed the ICT Department to begin the registration and ensure that we are up-to-date,” he said.