Nigeria’s data watchdog, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, partners with Meta on a two-year initiative to boost privacy, capacity, and compliance. This is a protection partnership between both parties.
The initiative, called the Meta-Supported Initiatives for Data Protection, is the result of a regulatory interaction between Meta and the NDPC following an examination of the company’s data processing procedures in Nigeria.
In a court-approved settlement that was reached in 2025, Meta committed to supporting public-facing data protection programs that were in line with Nigeria’s privacy laws.
Itunu Dosekun, the NDPC’s Head of Media Unit and Certified Data Protection Officer, signed a statement on Monday in which the commission stated that the project will be in place for two years and is intended to strengthen strategic safeguards for data subjects.
In a statement that reads that as part of the settlement, Meta agreed to support a two-year program of public-facing data protection measures that align with the goals of the NDPC Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2023–2027, the NDP Act General Application and Implementation Directive, and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
The M-SIDP programme aims to concentrate on four strategic pillars: governance, research, and innovation; enhancing safety and sustainability frameworks across the technology ecosystem; building the capacity of data protection officers and compliance organisations; and driving public awareness initiatives for data subjects, particularly vulnerable populations.
The NDPC clarified that the programme does not diminish its statutory powers and reaffirmed its commitment to independently overseeing data processing activities in Nigeria in accordance with existing legal and regulatory requirements.
The initiative will advance research and development in data protection protocols under its governance and research focus. To improve ecosystem safety, it will foster safety and sustainability mechanisms for digital technology ecosystems.
The programme will also provide professional training for data protection officers and data protection compliance organizations. Finally, it will launch nationwide media campaigns to educate citizens on their right to data privacy, with a special emphasis on protecting vulnerable groups such as children and elderly internet users.
It stated that the commission will regularly provide updates on the M-SIDP program’s implementation and calls on all stakeholders to support the initiative in advancing a secure and accountable privacy ecosystem in Nigeria.
Since becoming Nigeria’s data protection authority, the NDPC has worked to establish itself as a major player in the nation’s digital economy by raising awareness of the ways in which businesses gather, handle, store, and distribute personal data.
Stronger privacy regulations are crucial for fostering confidence in digital services and drawing capital to Nigeria’s rapidly expanding technology industry, the commission has stated time and time again.
Following a disagreement that attracted the attention of legislators, privacy groups, and technological stakeholders, Meta sees the project as a chance to restore regulatory relations in one of Africa’s biggest internet marketplaces.
The launch of the Meta initiative comes as the NDPC ramps up enforcement across multiple sectors. The commission recently gave over 1,300 banks, insurance companies, and gaming institutions a strict 21-day ultimatum to provide immediate proof of compliance with national data laws or risk significant financial penalties.