The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have agreed to deepen collaboration to protect citizens’ data and close loopholes used for fraud, identity theft, and corruption.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have agreed to deepen collaboration to protect citizens’ data and close loopholes used for fraud, identity theft, and corruption.
The move, anchored on the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, was announced on Monday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by NDPC officials to the ICPC headquarters.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, represented by the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, DSSRS, said proper data protection would strengthen the fight against corruption.
“The ICPC’s commitment to securing and managing data will boost efficiency, strengthen our operations, and set the pace for other MDAs. When these standards are met, opportunities for corruption and abuse of information shrink dramatically,” Oparaodu said.
He added that the joint approach would help curb insider abuse of records, enhance public trust, and align Nigeria’s governance systems with international transparency standards.
NDPC National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, described the partnership as a critical enforcement tool.
“Under the NDPA 2023, public institutions are duty-bound to protect citizens’ data. Working with ICPC will make enforcement stronger, especially where data breaches are linked to corrupt practices,” Olatunji stated.
The cooperation will cover intelligence sharing on corruption-related data breaches, joint public awareness campaigns, and the creation of standardized data management protocols for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as well as the private sector.
Olatunji also called for uniform national standards on lawful data processing, saying such measures would help deter misuse.
The development comes days after the ICPC held a capacity-building workshop for its Data Protection and Incident Response Team (DPIRT) to strengthen data handling, improve security, and ensure timely responses to breaches.
Both agencies said they would sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the coming weeks to formalise the partnership.
ICPC, NDPC Partner to Protect Nigerians’ Data, Combat Corruption
