NITDA’s Data Regulation Can Lead to Clash with NCC, ALTON Alleges

Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has raised concern over the impending danger in the implementation of the country’s data protection regulation document by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), insisting that such action will cause serious regulatory friction between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and NITDA.

ALTON, in a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, and its Executive Secretary, Mr. Kazeem Oladepo, said the current issue with NITDA implementing its data protection regulation document, requires urgent intervention by the commission to safeguard the interest of market players and preserve the powers of the commission.

According to the statement, in a bid to avoid a situation where industry members are caught in the crossfire of multiple regulation, we respectfully request the commission’s guidance on how to proceed with the NITDA on the aforementioned frameworks and regulation. The guidance would provide the much-needed clarity for the industry moving forward.

ALTON members had argued that data protection regulation is all about public internet and communication, which is directly under the purview of the NCC, and wonder why NITDA, which supposed to confine itself with IT Policy implementation, should delve into data protection regulation that is directly under the control of the NCC.

ALTON members had argued that what Nigeria needs is data regulation law and not data protection regulation.

Reacting to ALTON’s concern, NITDA’s Lawyer, Barrister Emmanuel Edet, said NITDA’s mandate permits it to embark on any regulation that has to do with Information Technology (IT).

He said NCC was established to regulate telecoms and not content that has to do with data protection.

Although Edet agreed the Nigeria needed a Data Protection Law, but stressed that in the absence of the law, Nigeria could make do with Data Protection Regulation, which NITDA is currently implementing.

NCC Director Public Affairs, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, however told THISDAY that the commission would respond to the issue in due course.