The Senate Committee Chairman on ICT and Cyber Security, Shuaib Salisu, has announced that the National Digital Economy and E-Government Bill is in its final legislative stage and will soon be passed into law. This legislation aims to provide legal backing for electronic transactions across Nigeria.
Legal Framework for Digital Signatures
Speaking during the 20th anniversary celebration of Galaxy Backbone in Abuja, Salisu explained that the proposed bill seeks to modernise Nigeria’s legal framework by granting digital signatures and electronic records the same legal weight as traditional paper documents. He noted that the Senate is simultaneously amending the Cybercrime Act to ensure a secure environment for the digital economy.
Salisu compared an unprotected digital space to a major highway left vulnerable to armed robbers, emphasising the need for robust cybersecurity measures.
Unified Digital Public Infrastructure
The lawmaker warned government agencies against operating in silos and advocated for a unified Digital Public Infrastructure. He urged federal parastatals to synergise and suggested converting Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) offices across all local councils into digital service hubs.
Salisu commended Jigawa State for pioneering the foundational digital template that inspired the establishment of Galaxy Backbone 20 years ago under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
Digital Technology and Economic Competitiveness
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, stated that Nigeria’s economic competitiveness and public service delivery depend entirely on digital technology. He said President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” prioritises innovation to drive institutional efficiency and transparency.
NDPC Strengthens Data Protection Rules
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has begun steps to strengthen data protection rules for Nigeria’s hospitality and telecommunications sectors. This initiative is part of broader efforts to develop sector-specific privacy frameworks tailored to industries handling large volumes of personal data.
The initiative was presented at a stakeholder engagement on data protection and privacy frameworks covering telecommunications, financial services, and hospitality sectors. The session brought together regulators, operators, and industry experts to shape practical guidelines that translate Nigeria’s data protection law into sector-based compliance tools.
Collaborative Rule-Making
The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, said the Commission adopted a collaborative “co-creation” approach to rule-making rather than imposing regulations on operators. He explained that stakeholders were involved from the drafting stage to ensure regulations reflect each sector’s realities.
One of the resource persons, Rex Abitogun of Management Edge, said a uniform framework would not work because each sector collects and processes different types of personal data with different risks. Another resource person, Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, warned about the risks of relying heavily on foreign digital platforms and cross-border data flows.
Speaking earlier, the Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at the NDPC, Babatunde Bamigboye, said the engagement was part of efforts to strengthen privacy rights and improve compliance under Nigeria’s legal framework.
