Information Privacy in Nigeria

Nwankwo, Iheanyi Samuel

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47317-8_3

Information Privacy in Nigeria

Iheanyi Samuel Nwankwo⁴

Chapter
First Online: 02 December 2016

774 Accesses
2 Citations

Part of the book series: Law, Governance and Technology Series ((ISDP,volume 33))

Abstract

The right to privacy as well as the right to respect for the dignity of the person are provided for in the current Nigerian Constitution, and there are decided cases that show how the Nigerian courts have interpreted and enforced them. It is true that no specific legislation exists that defines the contours of the constitutional right to privacy or demarcates its dimensions but there are statutory provisions in some federal laws that highlight information privacy, even though these provisions are often ancillary to the main objectives of these statutes and have limited application. This chapter, therefore, undertakes a critical analysis of the development and current legal reforms in respect of personal information protection in Nigeria. The result indicates that information privacy is not well developed in the Nigerian legal system despite the existence of the above mentioned constitutional rights. This is reflected in the judicial, socio-cultural, political, technological and economic contexts in which informational privacy discussions take place. However, some key legislative developments are occurring – some bills are before the Parliament and international treaties are being signed. It is hoped that these will lead to a stronger data protection framework in Nigeria sooner rather than later.

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Notes

1.
No item could be found in either the exclusive or the concurrent legislative list with any of the keywords: human rights, privacy, data protection, personal data and information privacy. However, the combined reading of Items 60, 67 and 68 of the exclusive legislative list, as well as sections 17 and 45 of the Constitution suggest that it is the federal parliament that has the power to make a privacy law. In contrast, Germany which operates a federal system of government like Nigeria has a federal Data Protection Act and sixteen data protection laws for the states.
2.
See, Interpretation Act, Cap I23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004. No item could be found in either the exclusive or the concurrent legislative list with any of the keywords: human rights, privacy, data protection, personal data and information privacy. However, the combined reading of Items 60, 67 and 68 of the exclusive legislative list, as well as sections 17 and 45 of the Constitution suggest that it is the federal parliament that has the power to make a privacy law. In contrast, Germany which operates a federal system of government like Nigeria has a federal Data Protection Act and sixteen data protection laws for the states.
3.
This consists of (1) the received English Law comprising of the following: the common law, the doctrine of equity, statutes of general application in force in England on January 1, 1900, Statutes and subsidiary legislation on specified matters, and (2) English law (statutes) made before 1st October, 1960 and extending to Nigeria which are not yet repealed.
4.
Nigeria is a dualist state, only international treaties that have been domesticated have local application, but that does not relieve Nigeria of its international obligation arising from signed treaties as set out in the Vienna Conventions on laws of Treaties. The Nigerian Constitution has clear provisions in section 12 of the Constitution as per method of ratification of treaties.
5.
See generally, Obilade, The Nigerian Legal System (1979).
6.
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, s 37. This chapter will not focus on all aspects of privacy, but will only deal with the aspect that protects personal information of the data subject.
7.
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, s 34. The right to dignity of the person is very important in privacy discussions. In some jurisdictions such as Germany, the right to free development of one’s personality and the right to human dignity have been used to explain and expand the right to privacy to include “the right to informational self-determination”. See BVerfGE 65, 1 – Census Cases; Killian, ‘Germany’ (2010).
8.
Clerke, ‘Beyond the OECD Guidelines: Privacy Protection for the 21st Century’ (2000).
9.
This is concerned with the integrity of the individual’s body.
10.
This relates to all aspects of behaviour, especially to sensitive matters, such as sexual preferences and habits, political activities and religious practices, both in private and in public places.
11.
This is the interest that individuals have in controlling, or at least significantly influencing, the handling of data about themselves. Clerk merged privacy of personal communication and privacy of personal data together in his updated version of the article. Later in 2013, he added another dimension, the privacy of personal experience. See <http://www.rogerclarke.com/DV/Intro.html> accessed 8 October 2016.
12.
DeCew, ‘Privacy’ The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2015).
13.
The words “data protection” and “information privacy” are used interchangeable and they are intended to mean the same thing for the purposes of this chapter.
14.
See Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.
15.
See: Ransome-Kuti v Att-Gen of the Federation & Ors (1985) 16 NSCC (Pt. 1) 879; Cletus Madu v Neboh & Anor (2002) 2 CHR 67; Aliyu Ibrahim v Commissioner of Police (F.C.T Command) (2007) LPELR-CA/A/115/05.
16.
Allotey, Data Protection and Transborder Data Flows: Implications for Nigeria’s Integration into the Global Network Economy (2014).
17.
See Data Protection Bill 2010, (HB 276, HB 45).
18.
Kusamotu, ‘Privacy Law and Technology in Nigeria: The Legal Framework will not Meet the Test of Adequacy as Mandated by Article 25 of European Union Directive 95/46’ (2007). See also Azeez, ‘Boosting Computer Penetration in Nigeria’ National Mirrow (2013).
19.
Obutte, ‘ICT Laws in Nigeria: Planning and Regulating a Societal Journey into the Future’ (2014).
20.
Recently, the NCC slammed a fine of about 5.3 million dollars on MTN for violating the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulation 2011. This came as a surprise to many as such fines have never been imposed before in Nigeria. See BBC, ‘Nigeria Telecom Giant MTN Fined a Record $5.2bn’ (2015).
21.
Nwokpoku, ‘E-Commerce - Nigerians Decry Dearth of Legislations’ (2015); Olangunju, ‘National e-ID card: Data Protection for Nigerians Must be Top Priority’ (2014).
22.
BBC, ‘Protests over Nigerian ID scheme’ (2004).
23.
Nwankwo, ‘Nigeria’s SIM Card Registration Regulations 2010: The Implications of Unguarded Personal Data Collection’ (2010).
24.
Nigerian Communications Commission (Registration of Telephone Subscribers) Regulations 2011.
25.
Olangunju (n 21).
26.
http://www.bvn.com.ng/BVN_FAQ.pdf
27.
Onalaja, ‘The Problem with Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number Exercise in 14 Tweets’ (2015).
28.
Ibid.
29.
PIN Admin, ‘PIN writes CBN, Calls for Suspension of Bank Verification Number (BVN) Exercise’ (2015).
30.
‘Nude Photographs: Anita Breaks Silence’ (2006).
31.
The victim alleged that the pictures were obtained from her laptop which she sent for repairs.
32.
Code of Ethics for Nigerian Journalists 1998.
33.
(nn) ‘Interview: I’ve Forgiven the Man who Published My Nude Pictures –Anita Hogan’ (2012).
34.
HB 276, HB 45.
35.
SB 248.
36.
HB 154.
37.
It should be noted that while this chapter was in progress, these Bills which were introduced in the last legislative assembly (the 7th Assembly) lasped. Unless they are reintroduced in the 8th Assembly in accordance with the standing orders of either the Senate or the House of Representatives, they are not presumed to be before the Parliament.
38.
Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.
39.
ECOWAS Supplementary Act A/SA. 1/01/10 on Personal Data Protection 2010.
40.
EX.CL/846(XXV).
41.
See the Computer Security and Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Bill 2005, SB 254, and the Cybercrime Act 2015.
42.
Makulilo, ‘Nigeria’s Data Protection Bill: Too Many Surprises’ (2012).
43.
Ogundeji AO, ‘Tech, Telecom Contribute 10 Percent of Nigeria’s GDP, ICT Minister Says’; (nn) ‘ICT Sector at 53: Tremendous Growth, Poor Services’ (2013).
44.
Matinde, ‘Africa: Tech Trends for 2015’ (2014).
45.
<http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats1.htm> accessed 20 January 2015.
46.
Budde, ‘Nigeria – Broadband Market and Digital Economy – Insights and Statistics’ (2015).
47.
Allotey (n 16), 147–156.
48.
Ibid.
49.
For detailed discussion on African culture and privacy, see Makulilo, ‘Privacy and Data Protection in Africa: A State of the Art’ (2012); Makulilo, ‘Myth and Reality of Harmonisation of Data Privacy Policies in Africa’ (2015).
50.
See Bennett, Regulating Privacy Data Protection and Public Policy in Europe and the United States (1992).
51.
Starr, ‘U.S. Paid for Full-Body Scanners at Nigeria’s Four International Airports in 2007’ (2010).
52.
Electronic Privacy Information Center, ‘Whole Body Imaging Technology and Body Scanners (“Backscatter” X-Ray and Millimeter Wave Screening)’ (nd).
53.
European Commission, Commission Recommendation on the Implementation of Privacy and Data Protection Principles in Applications Supported by Radiofrequency Identification (2009/387/EC).
54.
The Chinese traditional society for example, also lacked the concept of privacy, but some local challenges arising from abuses in e-commerce and marketing have necessitated the evolution of information privacy framework in China today. See Treacy, ‘Expert Comment’, Privacy and Data Protection (2014).
55.
GIPC, Unlimited Potential (2015).
56.
National Population Act 1989, s 6.
57.
See the 2nd schedule to the NIMC Act 2007.
58.
It is noteworthy that the CBN recently published a draft Consumer Protection Framework (Version 3.0) in July 2015 which includes Protection of Consumer Assets and Privacy as one of the nine consumer protection principles. The draft framework among other things, provides that personal information of customers of financial operators shall be kept in confidence, and imposes a duty of care on the operators to safeguard such data.
59.
Nwokpoku ‘E-commerce: Nigerians Decry Dearth of Legislations’ (2015).
60.
Adepetun ‘ICT to Witness Huge Growth in Nigeria, Two Others in 2015’ (December 2014).
61.
‘West Africa Sees Launch of Largest Data Center’ (2015).
62.
See Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, s 37.
63.
Nwauche, ‘The Right to Privacy in Nigeria’ (2007).
64.
Ibid.
65.
(2002) AHRLR 159 (NgSC 2001). Italics are mine for emphasis.
66.
European Convention of Human Rights, art 8.
67.
Kusamotu (n 18) 154; Allotey (n 16), 170.
68.
Kasamotu (n 18) 154.
69.
Article 10 of the German Basic Law provides “The privacy of correspondence, posts and telecommunications shall be inviolable.” It does not limit it to German citizens only.
70.
Data Protection Directive, Recital 2.
71.
National Identity Management Commission Act 2007, s 16.
72.
Kasumotu (n 18).
73.
See Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, s 45.
74.
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, s 46.
75.
Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 84, Vol. 74 10 July 2007.
76.
Ibid, s 35.
77.
See Part I Regulation 3 of the Consumer Code of Practice Regulation 2007.
78.
Amzat, ‘Nigerian Telecoms Firms Frustrate Subscribers’ (2015); Okwuke, ‘Protecting Subscribers in Nigerian Telecoms Space’ (2015).
79.
Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 101, Vol. 98, 7th November 2011.
80.
NCC, ‘SIM Registration’.
81.
Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulation 2011, s 9(1).
82.
BBC, (n 20).
83.
Nwankwo (n 23).
84.
Nigerian National Policy for Information Technology 2001.
85.
Ibid.
86.
NITDA Guidelines on Data Protection 2013. Note that the Electronic Transaction (Establishment) Bill 2013 also tasks the Agency to develop such guidelines. See section 25 of the Bill.
87.
Ibid, s 1.
88.
Ibid, s 3.
89.
Ibid, s 4.
90.
NITDA Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) 2013.
91.
Ibid, part 12.
92.
Ibid, part 14.
93.
Ibid, part 13.
94.
Ibid, part 11.
95.
NIALS, Abridged Report Identifying Gaps in Data Privacy and Security in the Adoption of Cloud Services in Nigeria (2014).
96.
Freedom of Information Act 2011, s. 14 (1).
97.
Ibid, s 14 (2) and (3).
98.
Allotey (n 16).
99.
Ibid, 158–161.
100.
The Nigerian Postal Services Act, ss 28 and 29.
101.
Evidence Act 2011, s 182 (3), 187.
102.
Ibid, s 192.
103.
Markesinis et al, ‘Concerns and Ideas About the Developing English Law of Privacy (and how knowledge of foreign law might be of help)’ (2004).
104.
Coco v AN Clark (Engineers) Ltd [1969] RPC 41, 47.
105.
Markesinis, (n 103).
106.
Ibid.
107.
Ibid.
108.
See: Ransome-Kuti v Att-Gen of the Federation & Ors (1985) 16 NSCC (Pt. 1) 879; Cletus Madu v Neboh & Anor (2002) 2 CHR 67; Jimmy S. Olaghere v Portland Paints and Production Nig Ltd and 2 others [2013] All FWLR (Part 661) 1593; INEC & 3 others v Action Congress and 3 others, and Muritala H. Nyako v Action Congress and 7 others [2009] 2 NWLR (Part 1126) 425.
109.
[2013] All FWLR (Part 661) 1593.
110.
Ibid,1614.
111.
Prosser, ‘Privacy’ (1960). The judge cited page 65 of Nwauche’s article which discussed Prosser’s work.
112.
[2013] All FWLR (Part 661) 1593, 1615.
113.
[2009] 2 NWLR (Part 1126) 425, 618.
114.
[2007] LPELR-CA/A/115/05.
115.
Ibid, 38.
116.
Nwauche (n 63), 83.
117.
Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner, Guidelines to the Information Privacy Principles (2011).
118.
Ibid.
119.
Adeniyi, ‘The Need for Data Protection Law in Nigeria’ (2014).
120.
Allotey (n 16), 169.
121.
Ibid, p. 170.
122.
HB 476.
123.
It seems however, that there was a proposal for a data protection bill which never made it to the Parliament that was the subject of a publication by the Article 19.org. See: ‘Nigeria: Personal Information and Data Protection Bill’ (2013).
124.
Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.
125.
See the long title to the Act and its section 1.
126.
This Bill was introduced in the 7th legislative Assembly which just ended on the 29th May 2015 while this Chapter was progress. According to the National Assembly Standing Orders it has lapsed and unless it is reintroduced in the present 8th Assembly, it is not deemed to be before the parliament.
127.
This bill is cited as HB. 276, but appears to have another bill number in 2011 as HB. 45.
128.
<http://www.placng.org/new/house-bills-charts.php?page=21> accessed 22 January 2015.
129.
It was erroneously indicated that the bill has 12 sections on the cover page.
130.
Makulilo (n 42).
131.
Makulilo (n 42).
132.
Data Protection Bill 2010, s 2 (10), 4 (2).
133.
Ugandan Data Protection and Privacy Bill 2014.
134.
Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (General Data Protection Regulation) COM (2012) 11 final.
135.
Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC, art 17.
136.
Data Protection Bill 2010, s 1(3).
137.
Makulilo (n 42).
138.
It appears that nobody listened to Nwauche’s advice when he suggested that “the undeveloped nature of privacy protection in Nigeria may be a blessing in disguise as it could enable the synthesis of the content of the protection by reaching out to other legal traditions and legal systems in order to ensure that privacy receives adequate protection”. Nwauche (n 63) 68.
139.
This Bill was introduced in the 7th legislative Assembly which just ended on the 29th May 2015 while this Chapter was progress, and was not concluded. According to the National Assembly Standing Orders it has lapsed and unless it is reintroduced in the present 8th Assembly, it is not deemed to be before the parliament.
140.
There is a similar bill before the House of Representatives which does not include provisions for data protection. See Electronic Transaction Bill 2011, HB 03.
141.
<http://www.placng.org/new/senate-bills-charts.php?page=5> accessed 25 January 2015.
142.
Electronic Transaction (Establishment) Bill 2013, s 1.
143.
Ibid, s 17.
144.
Ibid, s 5.
145.
Ibid, s 18.
146.
Ibid, s 22.
147.
Ibid, s 20.
148.
Ibid, s 25.
149.
<http://www.au.int/en/sites/default/files/treaties/29560-sl-african_union_convention_on_cyber_security_and_personal_data_protection.pdf>.

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Acknowledgment

The author wishes to immensely thank and acknowledge the assistance rendered by the following persons in completing this Chapter: Marc Stauch, Nikolaus Forgó, Mbonu Ifegwu, Charles Obutte, Chukwunyere Izuogu and Cosmas Emeziem.

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Institute for Legal Informatics, Leibniz Universität, Hannover, Germany
Iheanyi Samuel Nwankwo

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Iheanyi Samuel Nwankwo
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Correspondence to Iheanyi Samuel Nwankwo .

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Faculty of Law, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Alex B. Makulilo

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Nwankwo, I.S. (2016). Information Privacy in Nigeria. In: Makulilo, A. (eds) African Data Privacy Laws. Law, Governance and Technology Series(), vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47317-8_3

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47317-8_3
Published: 02 December 2016
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47315-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47317-8
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