Nigeria has signed new data protection cooperation agreements with Morocco and The Gambia, marking a further step toward strengthening cross-border digital governance as Africa’s digital economy expands rapidly.
The agreements were concluded during the 2026 Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA-RAPDP) conference and annual general meeting held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, according to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
The memoranda of understanding were signed between the NDPC and Morocco’s Commission Nationale de contrôle de la protection des Données à caractère Personnel, as well as The Gambia Information Commission.
They establish frameworks for regulatory cooperation, mutual legal assistance, information sharing, capacity building and joint coordination on enforcement of data protection laws across jurisdictions.
The agreements reflect growing efforts by African regulators to harmonise digital governance rules as cross-border data flows, fintech services and cloud-based technologies expand across the continent.
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The NDPC said the partnerships are designed to strengthen trust, improve enforcement capacity and boost investor confidence in Africa’s evolving digital economy.
Nigeria’s National Commissioner for Data Protection, Vincent Olatunji, said the agreements would help improve coordination between regulators and support more effective oversight of digital services operating across multiple countries.
The initiative comes amid rising regulatory pressure linked to the rapid expansion of Africa’s digital financial ecosystem, which includes mobile payments, fintech platforms, e-commerce services and cloud infrastructure increasingly operating across borders.
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Nigeria formally established its data protection authority following the passage of the Nigeria Data Protection Act in 2023, creating a central regulator responsible for compliance monitoring, enforcement and cross-border data transfer oversight.
Morocco, through its national data protection authority CNDP, has long maintained one of Africa’s more established privacy regulatory systems under Law 09-08, while The Gambia has been strengthening its framework through reforms to access to information and personal data protection legislation.
The agreements also align with broader continental efforts to harmonise digital trade regulations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to facilitate smoother cross-border commerce, including digital services.
They further complement African Union cybersecurity and data governance frameworks, including the Malabo Convention, as well as emerging digital payment systems such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, more than 35 African countries now have data protection laws in place, up from fewer than 15 a decade ago, reflecting rapid regulatory expansion across the continent.
The International Finance Corporation estimates that Africa’s digital economy could contribute around $180 billion to continental GDP by 2025, with potential for significant further growth by mid-century if infrastructure and regulation continue to improve.
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Officials say the new agreements will also help strengthen cooperation in tackling cyber fraud, privacy violations and regulatory challenges involving multinational technology firms operating across multiple African markets.
As Africa’s digital ecosystem grows increasingly interconnected, regulators say coordinated oversight will be key to ensuring consumer protection, data security and sustainable digital market development across the continent.
