Data Strategy, Determinant Of Digital Economic Gains – Minister

The Federal Government has said the country’s data strategy will determine its digital economy benefits.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, stated this in Abuja recently at the World Data Privacy day organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Noting that Nigeria is yeilding results from its policies and regulatory guidelines, Pantami siad it is the country’s data strategy that will determine the benefits accruable from its digital economy.
“The question then is, how do we lead Nigeria to experience the great benefits of a digital economy? To do this, we must chart a data strategy. The design must be inclusive to accommodate all strata of society,” he noted.
He continued that “If you look at the records from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) or the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS), the results are quite impressive in the last two years.
“We remitted over N358 billion through the the proceeds of spectrum sale under the National Frequency Management Council, NFMC. Within this period also, the sector got over N601 billion through the earnings of small mobile operators. This was done through the FIRS”, he explained.
Pantami noted that not that there were no laws protecting citizens’ data privacy, but that there were no specific penalty for violators.
“At that time they could agree that there were no clear punishment that was clearly stated in our laws. However, if you look at all our laws in Nigeria, particularly the institutions that are dealing with data, you will discover that our laws cover data privacy, data safety and data protection. And that is why we developed the NDPR”, he said.
According to Pantami, the NDPR has helped to create 7,680 jobs. “NDPR services created over 7,680 jobs and over 500,000 Nigerians have benefited from training on digital skills.
He stated further that NDPR enabling instruments of the digital economy are the rules of engagement in chatting Nigeria’s data strategy.
Speaking at the occasion, the Director General, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, applauded the Minister for laying what he called a solid data regulation and protection in the country.