The National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has pledged the Commission’s commitment to partnering with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in bolstering data protection compliance in Nigeria’s immigration operations.

This assurance was given during a working visit by a delegation from the IOM, led by Mrs. Emiola Oke, the National Coordinator on Immigration and Border Governance, to the NDPC headquarters in Abuja.

During the meeting, Mrs. Oke unveiled Project Capacity—a new initiative aimed at enhancing identity management, document verification, and policy development within Nigeria’s migration framework. She explained that the project involves extensive processing of personal data and emphasized the need for strict adherence to data protection and privacy regulations.

To this end, the IOM is seeking NDPC’s support in conducting a capacity-building workshop for officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), particularly personnel at the Command and Control Centre and the Passenger Information Unit.

Dr. Olatunji welcomed the initiative and reiterated the Commission’s willingness to collaborate with the IOM. He emphasized the vital role data protection plays in the immigration sector, which handles large volumes of sensitive personal information daily. He also highlighted the importance of appointing Data Protection Officers (DPOs) in such organisations, noting their responsibilities and the standards they are expected to uphold.

Mrs. Oke cited a recent instance where a foreign country demanded assurance of Nigeria’s data protection adequacy before engaging in collaboration, underlining the urgency and relevance of the training. She further requested that the training be extended to NIS state command officers nationwide.

In response, Dr. Olatunji confirmed that the NDPC will provide comprehensive training, helping to build both technical capacity and international trust in Nigeria’s data protection framework.

“Data protection is not only a compliance requirement; it is also key to national reputation and citizen trust, especially in critical sectors like immigration,” Dr. Olatunji stated.

The meeting reinforces the NDPC’s role in championing privacy rights while balancing innovation and national development priorities.