Video: ‘Data is new oil,’ Tinubu declares, demands strict protection

Abdullateef Fowewe

In a landmark statement, President Bola Tinubu emphasised the critical importance of data in Nigeria’s development, declaring, “Data is the new oil, unlike new oil, its value increases the more it is refined and responsibly shared.”

Addressing all ministries, extra-ministerial departments, and agencies, he directed rigorous data capture and safeguarding in compliance with the Nigerian Data Protection Act of 2023.

Tinubu stressed the need for transparency and international cooperation, stating, “We must let our data speak for us. We must publish, verify assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognised repository. This will allow global benchmarking organisations to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage.”