NITDA Extends Deadline For Data Audit Report To October

The National Information Technology Development Agency has fixed October 25 for banks, telecommunications operators and others to submit data audit reports of their operations.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director General of NITDA, Dr Isa Ibrahim, said the original deadline for businesses and public organisations that handled customer data to file in their audit reports ended on July 25.

Ibrahim said an extension of the deadline became necessary following consultation with stakeholders.

Ibrahim said, “NITDA held a series of consultations with various industry and government stakeholders on the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation.

“The overwhelming consensus of all stakeholder groups is that the NDPR is an appropriate regulation that would help provide clarity for data controllers and processors on the rights of data subjects, basis of processing personal data and transfer of data outside Nigeria among others.

“NITDA is pleased to note that stakeholders including other sector regulators, government, banks, industry groups, private sector players, among many others, have shown tremendous willingness towards compliance with the NDPR.”

He added, “Several data controllers have appealed for an extension of time to meet this obligation. Therefore, NITDA is hereby granting a three-month extension for the conduct of the initial audit report for every data controller and processor.

“This extension period will elapse on Friday 25th October, 2019.”