By George Ozalla
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have announced a strategic partnership to protect citizens from fraud, identity theft, and other corrupt practices. This collaboration aims to leverage the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 to close critical loopholes exploited in both public and private institutions.
According to ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, data protection is now a “frontline weapon” in the anti-corruption campaign. The partnership will focus on intelligence sharing on corruption-related data breaches, joint public awareness campaigns linking data protection with good governance, and the creation of standardized data management protocols for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as private sector operators.
NDPC National Commissioner and CEO, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, described the partnership as a critical enforcement tool under the NDPA, especially where data breaches are linked to corrupt practices. “Public institutions are duty-bound to protect citizens’ data. Working with ICPC makes enforcement stronger, particularly where data breaches fuel corruption,” Olatunji noted.
The two agencies plan to formalize the arrangement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the coming weeks, which they say will “protect citizens, fight corruption, and restore confidence in public institutions.” This development comes after ICPC held a strategic capacity-building workshop for its Data Protection and Incident Response Team (DPIRT) to entrench best practices in data handling, strengthen security, and ensure prompt remedies for breaches.
The partnership is expected to enhance public trust, curb insider abuse of records, and align Nigeria’s governance systems with international transparency standards. By working together, the ICPC and NDPC aim to create a robust framework for data protection, ultimately contributing to a more transparent and accountable governance system in Nigeria.
