The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is set to deepen collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to protect data and tackle corruption in the country.

ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Bakare quoted the ICPC chairman, Musa Aliyu, SAN, as saying that when NDPC officials led by its national commissioner and CEO, Vincent Olatunji, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Mr Aliyu, represented by the commission’s secretary, Clifford Oparaodu, said that the collaboration was to shield the nation’s data under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.

He stressed that the move was designed to close loopholes exploited for fraud, identity theft, and corruption in public and private institutions.

The ICPC boss noted that 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,” he 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.

In his response, Mr 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 reinforcement stronger, especially where data breaches are linked to corrupt practices,” Mr Olatunji said.

According to him, 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.

“It will also focus on the creation of standardised data management protocols for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as private sector operators.”

Mr 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. 

(NAN)