ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has launched a new data protection initiative in partnership with Meta Platforms Inc., the technology company owned by billionaire entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg, as part of efforts to strengthen privacy and data protection in Nigeria.
Okay News reports that the programme, known as the Meta-Supported Initiatives for Data Protection (M-SIDP), was unveiled by the NDPC on June 8, 2026. The initiative follows the conclusion of a regulatory process involving Meta’s data processing activities in Nigeria.
According to the commission, the matter was resolved in 2025 through a court-approved settlement between Meta and the Nigerian Government through the NDPC. As part of the agreement, Meta committed to supporting a two-year programme designed to enhance public awareness, strengthen data protection safeguards, and improve compliance with Nigeria’s data privacy laws.
The programme will focus on governance, research and development, safety and sustainability mechanisms for technology ecosystems, capacity building for Data Protection Officers (DPOs) and Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs), as well as public awareness campaigns targeting data subjects, particularly vulnerable groups.
The NDPC said the initiative aligns with the objectives of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, its implementation framework, and the commission’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan for 2023–2027.
While announcing the partnership, the commission stressed that the settlement does not limit its statutory powers to regulate data processing activities in Nigeria. It added that it would continue to independently enforce compliance with the country’s data protection laws and provide periodic updates on the implementation of the programme.
The NDPC also called on stakeholders across the public and private sectors to support the initiative in promoting a secure, accountable and privacy-conscious digital ecosystem in Nigeria.
