Nigeria signs data protection cooperation agreements with Morocco and The Gambia
Date: 2026-05-26
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has signed Memorandums of
Understanding (MoUs) with the data protection authorities of Morocco and The
Gambia to strengthen cross-border collaboration on data governance and
regulatory enforcement across Africa.
The
agreements were concluded in Abidjan during the 2026 Network of African Data
Protection Authorities (NADPA-RAPDP) Conference and Annual General Meeting,
bringing together regional regulators to deepen cooperation on privacy and data
protection standards.
The
MoUs were signed with the Morocco Data Protection Authority (CNDP) and the
Gambia Information Commission (GIC). They establish frameworks for mutual legal
assistance, knowledge exchange, and structured information sharing aimed at
supporting the enforcement and harmonisation of data protection laws across
jurisdictions.
According
to the NDPC, the agreements are intended to enhance regulatory coordination in
response to the increasingly interconnected nature of the global digital
economy. The Commission noted that closer collaboration among African data
protection authorities is critical to building trust in digital systems and
improving investor confidence across national markets.
Nigeria’s
National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Vincent Olatunji,
described the partnerships as a significant step toward strengthening regional
alignment in data protection regulation, emphasizing that effective cooperation
between regulators is essential for safeguarding personal data in a rapidly
evolving digital landscape.
The
agreements were signed on behalf of Morocco by the President of the CNDP, Omar
Seghrouchni, while the Gambia Information Commission was represented by its
Head, Nene MacDouall-Gaye.
