ICPC, NDPC Forge Alliance to Tackle Data Breaches, Curb Corruption
0
0
ICPC, NDPC Forge Alliance to Tackle Data Breaches, Curb Corruption
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
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 under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, in a bid to block loopholes exploited for fraud, identity theft, and corruption in public and private institutions.
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, described data protection as 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 said.
READ ALSO: NIMC Upgrades Diaspora NIN Enrolment Platform for Enhanced Service Delivery
He noted that a joint approach between both agencies would enhance public trust, curb insider abuse of records, and align Nigeria’s governance systems with international transparency standards.
NDPC National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, said the partnership would serve as a critical enforcement tool under the NDPA, particularly where data breaches are linked to corrupt practices.
“Public institutions are duty-bound to protect citizens’ data. Working with ICPC will make enforcement stronger, especially in corruption-related breaches,” Olatunji stated.
The collaboration will focus on intelligence sharing in 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 private sector operators.
The move comes days after ICPC held a strategic capacity-building workshop for its Data Protection and Incident Response Team (DPIRT) to entrench best practices, strengthen security, and ensure prompt remedies for breaches.
Both agencies are expected to formalize the alliance with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the coming weeks, a step they say will protect citizens, fight corruption, and restore confidence in public institutions.
