Nigeria has joined the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) Forum as an associate member, strengthening its framework for international data exchange and positioning itself for greater participation in the global digital economy.
The announcement was made by Dr. Vincent Olatunji, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday ahead of the 2025 Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RAPDP) conference scheduled for May 6 to 8.
Olatunji noted that the move reflects Nigeria’s growing commitment to aligning its data protection policies with international best practices. He explained that the CBPR membership would expand opportunities for Nigerian organisations to legally transfer personal data across borders, in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act signed into law in June 2023.
“As data flows continue to shape industries like healthcare, education, and e-commerce, it’s critical that Nigeria adopts global standards to protect its citizens’ privacy while encouraging innovation,” he said.
According to Olatunji, the NDPC will constitute a dedicated team to create a roadmap for managing international data transfers, including assessing the adequacy of protection in other jurisdictions and implementing regulatory tools such as standard contractual clauses and certification systems.
The CBPR Forum, initiated by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), seeks to harmonise privacy rules among member countries and simplify the movement of data through unified standards.
Christine Harbaugh, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, commended the development, describing it as a bold signal that Nigeria is ready for global digital trade. She added that it would enhance trust among international partners and boost investor confidence, especially given that over 60% of Nigerian startups are registered in the United States.
The NDPC also revealed that more than 2,000 delegates from over 30 countries have registered for the upcoming NADPA-RAPDP conference, which will showcase Nigeria’s progress in digital transformation. Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to formally open the event.
Stakeholders such as the European Union, the World Bank, and global tech giants including Amazon, Meta, Google, and Huawei have thrown their support behind Nigeria’s data protection reforms, alongside local banking institutions like GTBank, Zenith Bank, and Access Bank.
