Managing Data Privacy Compliance under Nigeria’s Data Protection Act 2023: Practical Guidance for Organisations

The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 represents the country's most significant legislative intervention in personal data governance, establishing a comprehensive compliance framework applicable to public and private organisations that process the personal data of Nigerian residents. For compliance professionals and legal practitioners, understanding the Act's obligations and developing practical management responses is a matter of professional urgency. This study examines the practical challenges of implementing data protection compliance programmes under the 2023 Act, drawing on evidence from financial services, healthcare, and technology organisations in Lagos and Abuja. A professional practitioner design was employed, incorporating structured interviews with Chief Data Officers, data protection legal advisers, and Nigeria Data Protection Commission officials. Secondary data includes NDPC guidance notes, comparative GDPR implementation studies, and academic literature from 2022 to 2024. Findings reveal that most Nigerian organisations are in the early stages of compliance maturity, with data mapping, consent management, and cross-border data transfer controls presenting the greatest implementation challenges. Small and medium enterprises face particular resource constraints in achieving full compliance. Recommendations include tiered compliance obligations calibrated to organisational size, NDPC issuance of sector-specific compliance guidelines, and professional certification programmes for Data Protection Officers. This study equips legal and compliance professionals with practical frameworks for navigating Nigeria's data protection regime. Keywords: data protection, NDPA 2023, privacy compliance, NDPC, data governance.