The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at protecting citizens’ data and closing loopholes exploited for fraud, identity theft, and corruption in both public and private sectors.
The announcement followed a courtesy visit by NDPC officials to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja on Monday. The collaboration will leverage the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 to enhance enforcement, strengthen institutional accountability, and bolster public trust.
Speaking on behalf of ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu, DSSRS, said safeguarding citizens’ data has become a “frontline weapon” in 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 stated.
He emphasized that a joint approach between ICPC and NDPC would help curb insider abuse of records and align Nigeria’s governance systems with international transparency benchmarks.
NDPC’s National Commissioner and CEO, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, described the collaboration as a “critical enforcement tool,” stressing that the NDPA places a legal duty on public institutions to protect citizens’ data.
“Working with ICPC will make enforcement stronger, especially where data breaches are linked to corrupt practices,” Olatunji said.
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The partnership will focus on three core areas: Intelligence sharing on corruption-related data breaches;Joint public awareness campaigns on the connection between data protection and good governance; Creation of standardized data management protocols for Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and private sector operators.
Olatunji also called for uniform national standards on lawful data processing, noting that clear, enforceable rules would deter the misuse of personal information.
The initiative comes shortly after ICPC hosted a strategic capacity-building workshop for its Data Protection and Incident Response Team (DPIRT), aimed at entrenching best practices in data handling, strengthening security frameworks, and ensuring swift responses to breaches.
Both agencies are expected to formalize the partnership with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the coming weeks, a move they say will protect citizens, combat corruption, and restore confidence in public institutions.
