NDPC, EU Agencies Explore Stronger Cooperation On Data Protection, Criminal Investigations

The National Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has opened discussions with European Union agencies on strengthening cooperation around data protection, information exchange and cross-border criminal investigations.

The development followed a meeting between the NDPC National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vincent Olatunji, and the Vice President of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (EUROJUST), José de la Mata Amaya, who led a delegation comprising officials from EUROJUST and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL).

Amaya commended the NDPC for the progress recorded since its establishment and expressed interest in exploring areas of collaboration with the Commission.

He gave an overview of EUROJUST’s role in facilitating judicial cooperation and coordination in criminal matters, while also highlighting an ongoing EUROJUST-EUROPOL project aimed at improving information exchange, evidence sharing and coordinated operations in criminal investigations.

The project involves the sharing and processing of personal data by national security and law enforcement agencies and service providers, making data protection safeguards a key component of the initiative.

The European delegation also welcomed Nigeria’s Data Protection Act 2023, describing the country’s data protection framework as robust and expressing interest in learning more about the NDPC’s regulatory and operational activities.

Responding, Olatunji said the processing of personal data by security and law enforcement agencies was particularly sensitive and required appropriate safeguards to prevent abuse and protect citizens’ privacy.

He said the NDPC already works with several Nigerian security and law enforcement agencies by providing guidance on the lawful processing and protection of personal data.

According to him, the Commission also supports law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in cases involving data protection, including through technical assistance and capacity-building programmes.

Olatunji expressed the Commission’s readiness to work with EUROJUST and EUROPOL to strengthen cooperation in data protection and criminal justice matters.

The meeting concluded with a technical session involving officials of the three institutions, where potential areas of cooperation were further examined.