NITDA directs annual data audits before march, 2021

By Oluchi Ihediuche

National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has directed all data controllers and processors in the country to filing in their annual data audit report before 15th March, 2021.

The Director-General of NITDA, Abdullahi Inuwa, warned that non-filing of the report is a punishable offence which the agency is set to fully enforce this year.

This was contained in the DG’s opening speech at the National Privacy Week 2021 press conference.

He said NITDA is not oblivious of the information deficit of most Nigerians as regards the issue of data protection.

“Enforcement is another sour point. Our current efforts at enforcement is salutary but not nearly enough. We are considering all options to ensure we do not kill businesses, while also ensuring businesses do not kill Nigerians through wanton abuse of their data.

“I want to use this opportunity to remind all data controllers and processors that the deadline for the filing of their annual data audit report is 15th March, 2021. Non-filing is a punishable offence, and we are set to fully enforce this provision this year.”

The agency noted that 2020 was a challenging year as they set to redouble efforts in 2021

“We are also going to rejig our enforcement mechanism to improve compliance. COVID-19 slowed down our enforcement vision in 2020, but we are going to redouble our efforts in this direction as data protection has become a pivot for the continued growth of the digital economy.