Africa: Technology

The Federal High Court has affirmed the statutory powers of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to register Data Controllers and Data Processors of Major Importance (DCPMIs) under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023. In a judgment delivered on 28 July 2026 by Honourable Justice F.N. Ogazi in Emmanuel Harunna v. Nigeria Data Protection Commission (FHC/L/CS/1116/2024), the court dismissed the applicant’s contention that Point of Sale (PoS) agents should not be classified as Data Controllers or Processors subject to the Commission’s registration regime.

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) is concluding arrangements to enter into a tripartite agreement with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to strengthen product standardization, intellectual property rights protection, and commercialization of Nigerian innovations. The three agencies agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their collaboration and working relationship.

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdulahi, has called for a stronger collaboration among government regulators to accelerate the establishment of Nigeria’s National Regulatory Sandbox, describing inter-agency corporation as the cornerstone for building an innovation-friendly regulatory ecosystem.

Nigeria's fintech ecosystem continues to attract significant local and foreign investment, but navigating its complex and overlapping regulatory framework remains critical to deal certainty, change of control and exit planning.

The Nigerian Exchange Group has unveiled plans to allow Nigerian companies with significant foreign exchange revenue and free trade zone enterprises to issue and list bonds and stocks denominated in US Dollars. This initiative aims to provide an avenue to meet the foreign exchange needs of such companies while enhancing investment opportunities in Nigerian capital markets.

Mauritius has issued comprehensive guidance notes on stablecoins, marking a significant tightening of its regulatory framework three years after initial consultation. The new rules prohibit algorithmic and yield-bearing models, mandate redemption at par value within five days, and introduce dual oversight with the Bank of Mauritius for certain arrangements.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on road construction companies, contractors, engineers and other stakeholders to strengthen coordination and adopt preventive measures to protect fibre-optic cables during road construction, rehabilitation and other civil works across the country. The NCC said damage to fibre infrastructure could disrupt essential services and impose significant costs on citizens and the wider economy, as communications infrastructure now supports banking, government services, education, healthcare, commerce, security and emergency communications.

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdulahi, has called for a stronger collaboration among government regulators to accelerate the establishment of Nigeria’s National Regulatory Sandbox, describing inter-agency corporation as the cornerstone for building an innovation-friendly regulatory ecosystem.

The Nigerian Communications Commission has issued comprehensive guidance on implementing a Cyber Resilience Framework specifically designed for the Nigerian communications sector. This framework establishes standards and protocols for telecommunications operators and service providers to strengthen their cybersecurity posture and operational resilience against evolving digital threats.