Data protection law in Nigeria: registration and research permits
What a survey team needs to know about personal data and survey authorization in Nigeria.
Summary for planning; confirm requirements with the regulator before fieldwork.
operational regulator
Data protection law
Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (2023)
Registration
registration of data controllers of major importance required
Survey permits
NBS permit required for statistical surveys; NDPC clearance for personal data processing in research
National statistics office
Note
NDPA 2023 replaced the NDPR 2019 framework; NDPC is fully operational with registration portal.
Nigeria research rules: common questions
Is there a data protection law in Nigeria?
Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (2023).
Who regulates personal data in Nigeria?
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Do I need to register to collect personal data in Nigeria?
Registration of data controllers of major importance required.
Do I need a permit to run a survey in Nigeria?
NBS permit required for statistical surveys; NDPC clearance for personal data processing in research.
Sources: the regulator and statistics office pages linked above, retrieved 10 Oct 2026. See our methods.