Admin
- January 28, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abuja: Tuesday, January 28, 2026: Digicivic Initiative joins the global community in commemorating Data Privacy Day, a moment to reaffirm that the protection of personal data is not a technical luxury but a fundamental human rights obligation in an increasingly digital society.
As Nigeria’s digital ecosystem expands spanning governance, finance, health, education, and civic participation, so too do the risks of data misuse, surveillance, exclusion, and harm. For millions of Nigerians, particularly women, journalists, human rights defenders, and communities in conflict-affected and underserved regions, weak data protection translates directly into threats to safety, autonomy, and dignity.
While the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act represents a significant step forward, laws alone are not sufficient. Effective data protection requires robust enforcement, institutional accountability, transparency by both public and private actors, and meaningful public awareness. Without these, data subjects remain vulnerable and rights remain theoretical.
Effective data protection must commence with meaningful awareness through government institutions, such as the National Orientation Agency, institutional accountability, robust enforcement of data protection laws and regulations, continuous capacity building for data controllers and processors, transparent compliance mechanisms, accessible remedies for data subjects, inter-agency collaboration, and sustained public engagement that places privacy and data protection at the core of governance and service delivery.
On this Data Privacy Day, Digicivic Initiative calls on:
- Government should prioritize sensitization of the over 220 million Nigerians to ensure that innocent Nigerians do not become victims of law enforcement agencies and fellow citizens;
- Government institutions to prioritize enforcement, oversight, and rights-based data governance;
- Private sector actors and digital platforms to uphold privacy-by-design and respect user consent;
- Civil society and the media to continue advancing public education and accountability; and
- Citizens to actively claim and exercise their data rights.
Data privacy is inseparable from democratic participation, freedom of expression, and access to justice. Protecting personal data is ultimately about protecting people.
Digicivic Initiative remains committed to advancing digital rights, strengthening data protection awareness, and supporting communities to navigate digital spaces safely and securely. For media enquiries, please contact:
Digicivic Initiative
Email: digicivicinitiaitive@gmail.com
