The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) are set to deepen collaboration to protect Nigerians’ data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, in a move designed to close loopholes exploited for fraud, identity theft, and corruption in public and private institutions.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by NDPC officials to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN represented by the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, DSSRS said safeguarding data was now a frontline weapon in the war 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 stated.
He stressed that a joint ICPC NDPC approach would enhance public trust, curb insider abuse of records, and align Nigeria’s governance systems with international transparency standards.
NDPC National Commissioner and CEO, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, described the partnership as a critical enforcement tool, citing the provisions of the NDPA.
‘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 said.
The partnership will focus on intelligence sharing in corruption-related data breaches, joint public awareness campaigns on the link between data protection and good governance, and the creation of standardised data management protocols for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as private sector operators.
Dr. Olatunji also called for uniform national standards on lawful data processing, stressing that clear rules would act as a strong deterrent against misuse.
The initiative comes just days 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 two agencies plan to formalise the collaboration with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the coming weeks, a step both leaders say will “protect citizens, fight corruption, and restore confidence in public institutions.”
