NITDA Begins Enforcement Of Compliance With Law On Public Internet Access

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
is to begin the enforcement of compliance with the Public Internet
Access (PIA) Regulation which mandates all providers of free
internet in open spaces including airports, malls, restaurants and
hotels among others to adhere to the regulatory framework for the
provision of internet services in locations where members of the
public have unfettered access.

The agency announced this move in a press statement issued today
in Abuja and signed by its Director General/CEO, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim
(Pantami).

The statement reads:The National Information
Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in line with its mandateof
promoting and regulating Information Technology in Nigeria, is set
to enforce compliance with the Public Internet Access (PIA)
Regulation, issued pursuant to Section 6 of the NITDA Act 2007. The
PIA Regulation is a regulatory framework for the provision of
internet services in public areas or locations where members of the
public have unfettered access. It provides minimum requirements and
processes for provisioning of the public internet access service
and mandates compliance reporting to ensure the rules are followed
in provisioning of this vital and strategic service.

The agency commends operators who are currently providing this
service across Nigeria, as the service increases the use of
internet and information technology for development of Nigeria. It
is, however, pertinent to note that this service can be misused
with great detriment to development of information technology and
national security, in a manner that may be injurious to the
citizens.

The Federal Government is also concerned about the management
and use of the personal information of Nigerians. It is on these
considerations that all service providers of public internet
service such as IT companies, Restaurants, Hotels and Event Centres
are directed to comply with the Nigerian Data Protection Regulation
of the NITDA 2019, issued pursuant to Section 6 of the NITDA
2007.Henceforth, only registered, verified and vetted providers can
provide public internet access service in Nigeria.

Current and prospecting providers are therefore required to
register with the agency in line with the provisions of the Public
Internet Access Regulation, 2019 and must submit, on a bi-annual
basis, completed compliance reporting forms in the manner
prescribed by NITDA. The Public Internet Access (PIA) Registration
form and the Public Internet Access Compliance forms are available
on the Agency’s website:www.nitda.gov.ng.

It should be noted that violation of the Regulatory Guidelines
of NITDA is a criminal offence and punishable with a fine,
imprisonment or both. Members of the public and operators of public
internetaccess service are advised to comply promptly and
accordingly.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA),
is a Federal Government Agency established in April 2001 to
implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy as well as
coordinate general IT development and regulation in the country.
Specifically, Section 6(a, b& m) of the Act mandates NITDA to
create a framework for the planning, research, development,
standardization, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation
and regulation of Information Technology practices, activities and
systems in Nigeria; provide guidelines to facilitate the
establishment and maintenance of appropriate infrastructure for
information technology and systems application and development in
Nigeria for public and private sectors, urban-rural development,
the economy and the government; and accelerate internet and
intranet penetration in Nigeria and promote sound internet
Governance among others.