Telecom
NDPB Investigates 110 Companies for Data Breaches
Nigeria Data Protection Bureau has said that it is presently investigating over 110 companies in Nigeria over allegations of data breach.
Dr Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the Bureau, disclosed this on Monday while speaking to media men.
According to him, the investigated companies include banks, telecom, gaming, and online lending. He said the vulnerabilities in these sectors are high partly due to the capabilities of intrusive mobile apps they deploy in rendering their services.
Olatunji said those found guilty may be made to pay 2 per cent of their revenue to the government according to the Data Protection law.
He said that the government’s position is that those who are into data would have nothing to fear. Still, the consequences of their acts and omissions might constitute a civil or criminal liability. He added that the Nigeria Police Force is currently working with the bureau.
Among those being investigated are some companies in the financial and telecom sectors. They include four banks, online lending companies. one telecom company and one gaming company.
He said, ” the vulnerabilities in these sectors are high partly due to the capabilities of intrusive mobile apps. When you factor in a lack of due diligence on the part of data controllers in engaging data processors or vendors who have access to the personal data of customers, what you see in some cases is a pattern of abuses in violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to him, the government’s position is that those who deal with data have nothing to fear but the consequences of their acts and omissions, which may constitute civil or criminal liability.
Olatunji disclosed that the Bureau recently licensed 48 Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs), which increased the number of DPCOs to 138, which has boosted the wealth and job creation in the ecosystem.
He said that Nigeria was prepared for a leading role in advancing data protection and exploring the opportunities of the global digital economy. Olatunji reassured citizens that every data controller and data processor within or outside Nigeria would be held accountable for any unlawful processing of personal data from their jurisdiction.
The NDPB was established in February 2002 by President Muhammadu Buhari as the nation’s data protection authority and to fully implement the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) issued in 2019.
He also said Bureau had generated N5.5 billion into the coffers of the Federal Government from its operations in the last year partly through the license of 138 Data Protection Compliance Organisations (DPCOs), which has boosted the wealth and job creation in the ecosystem.
“Similarly, the rate of NDPR Compliance Audit Returns filing increased from 1229 in 2021 to 1,777 in 2022,” he said.
He said that last year, the Bureau took necessary institutional measures to lay the foundation of the bulwark for a sustainable digital economy.
According to him, these are the official launching of the core values, digital platform and symbol for the seamless and effective implementation of the NDPR 5/4/22, adding that the agency has been carrying out strategic awareness campaigns across the country.
“We recalibrated the “Adopt-A-School” Awareness Programme, which is now called “Catch – them-Young”. We were able to reach over 3000 students and pupils in about 70 schools with the message of data privacy,” Cr Olatunji said.
He said the Bureau has also carried out stakeholder engagement for Accelerated Integration of Public Sector Data Controllers into the Data Privacy and Protection Framework. The public institutions engaged, he said, including the National Assembly, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Health, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Police Force, Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC).
“As a result of these engagements, we now have a-100 per cent increase in the rate of integration of the public sector into the Data Privacy and Protection Framework,” he said.
In capacity building and National Certification on Data Privacy and Protection, he said the target is to create a pool of 250,000 globally competent data privacy and protection experts.
To achieve this, 15 capacity-building programmes for members of staff of the Bureau have so far been organized. In contrast, training has been done for the ICT and Cybersecurity Committee of the Senate, ICT and Cybersecurity Committee of the House of Representatives, Federal Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Television Authority, Voice of Nigeria, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and Designated Data Protection Officers from over 100 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bureau of Public Procurement, Ministry of Health and Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, have also been scheduled to benefit from the capacity-building programme.
He said: “On the reinforcement of NDPR Implementation Framework. This was achieved through the Federal Government Circular through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation directing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with the NDPR Circular no SGF/OP/I/S.3/XII/186 7/11/22
“Service-wide Guidelines on Personal Information Technology Devices by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation makes compliance with NDPR obligatory in public service. circular number OHCSF/ICTD/152/I/ dated 16/11/22.
“Resolution of the 10th Meeting of the National Council on Communications and Digital Economy (NCCDE), which urges data controllers and data processors at Federal, State and Local levels to comply with the NDPR. 9/12/22
“MoU with Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission; developing Code of Conduct for Data Protection Compliance Organizations and drafting the Nigeria Data Protection Bill 2022.
“As you are aware, the Federal Executive Council approved the Nigeria Data Protection Bill on the 25th of January, 2023. It will be transmitted to the National Assembly as an Executive Bill. The Legislature has reiterated its preparedness to pass the bill into law,” he said.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that Nigeria’s internet usage reached a record 1.24 million terabytes in November 2025.
According to the latest data from the NCC, the figure rose modestly from 1.235 million terabytes in October, reflecting steady growth in digital activity across the country.
Broadband penetration in Nigeria crossed the halfway mark in November 2025, reaching 50.58 per cent, up from 45.61 per cent in January, the telecoms regulator reported.
The figure, however, falls short of the 70 per cent coverage target outlined in the National Broadband Plan 2020–2025, which expires this month.
The country had roughly 109 million broadband subscriptions by November. Growth has been uneven, hindered by infrastructure and regulatory constraints, including frequent fibre-optic vandalism that triggers 30 to 43 network cuts daily, high right-of-way fees, and declining subscriber numbers earlier in the year.
Expansion of mobile networks, particularly 3G and 4G services, alongside limited 5G rollouts in urban centres, affordable smartphones, and competitive data plans, has driven uptake.
Investments in the National Communications Backbone and private-sector initiatives have also improved access, especially in underserved areas.
While Nigeria is gradually improving digital inclusion, achieving the original broadband plan remains challenging due to high infrastructure costs, coverage limitations, and deployment hurdles.
The NCC maintains that continued investment in mobile networks and broadband infrastructure will sustain gradual growth in the sector.
Commenting on the development, some Nigerian analysts attributed the surge to the broader mobile and broadband adoption and the growing appetite for streaming, online learning and other digital services.
According to the analysts, the figures suggest that internet connectivity is no longer a luxury but a necessity for both business and leisure, underscoring the slow but steady expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has named the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) among the top three Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government with the Best Ranking in Website Performance for 2025.
L-R: Head Special Projects, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Salamatu Andu; Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Engr. Abaraham Oshadame; Director General Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Head Customer Support Service, Galaxy Backbone, Rosemary Ehize; Secretary to the ES. Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Tahir Aminu at the BPSR award ceremony for top four MDAs in BPSR Website Performance and Ranking 2025 at the BPSR office on Tuesday, 23rd December, 2025.
This is coming barely three weeks after the telecom regulator was recognized as one of the top five best-performing Federal Government agencies for 2025 by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) – a testament to the Commission’s consistency in investment in technology for ensuring efficient service delivery.
In the BPSR 2024/2025 scorecard ranking of agencies’ websites, the NCC came second in the ranking, trailing behind Galaxy Backbone Limited, which came first while the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) clinched the third position, from a pool of 235 MDAs, whose website were evaluated.
BPSR deployed 14 evaluation criteria in include MDA’s website compliance with .gov.ng domain name, appearance and aesthetics (look and feel) of the website, content, relevance to MDAs mandate/government policy and the website’ structure.
Others include website’s responsiveness (device compatibility), security, load time, usability/ease of navigation, availability/uptime, functionality, interactivity, accessibility and capacity building.
The recognition was announced at the official release of Federal Government 2024/2025 Scorecard Ranking for MDAs’ Website held at the Federal Ministry of Finance Auditorium in Abuja on Monday (December 22, 2025) while the award presentation took place at BPSR’s Office on Tuesday (December 23, 2025).
The award, which is an important index metric of the National e-Government Masterplan for determining the Nigeria e-Government Status, was received by the Commission in recognition of its commitment to maintaining a world-class website that enhances service delivery to the citizens.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, appreciated the BPSR for the recognition, describing the award as “another encouragement for the Commission to be a better public service institution leveraging digital platforms such as our web presence to enhance public service delivery to our various stakeholders, thereby implementing the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy direction.”
While presenting the award to the NCC, alongside other two agencies, BPSR’s Director-General, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, commended the top three for their proactive decisions in maintaining world-class websites, which are compliant with the Federal Government’s policy direction in effective and efficient service delivery to the citizens.
According to the DG, the 2024/2025 MDA’s websites’ ranking represents a collective effort of federal public institutions in Nigeria to be transparent, accountable and open in governance, as well as a confirmation to align with global best practices in service delivery to the citizens.
Developed about six years ago, Arabi said as a result of the annual ranking, more public institutions have indicated readiness to embrace reforms, and align with the policy direction of the current administration’s Renewed Hope agenda on improve governance for effective service delivery, as introduced by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The ideals of harnessing and deploying technological tools for service delivery has become imperative following the COVID pandemic, and distortions of socio-economic system of nations, culminating in the evolution of competitiveness, cost effectiveness, and agile governance.
“As engine room of governance, it behoves on us in the public service to perform our statutory duties and we must put in place technological innovations and standardized websites to operate services as well as deliver service needs to citizens,” he said.
The Scorecard exercise, he said, is part of the BPSR reform broader function of conducting research on reform implementation efforts and presenting ‘best practice’ models to the entire Public Service, and to among others, improve access to government information, facilitate seamless financial transaction, eliminate corruption and cyber theft, as well as facilitate access to government services.
Speaking on the rigorous nature of the exercise that produced the top three winners, the DG said “in the past few weeks members of the Scorecard Jury drawn from inter-Ministerial Agencies, had worked tirelessly to mill websites of selected MDAs through a rigorous process of enduring criteria for the ranking and the outcome had also passed through a quality assurance mechanism to validate the outcome.”
Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has dismissed reports that bank accounts not linked to a Tax Identification Number (TIN) will be frozen or automatically debited from January 1, 2026.
Taiwo Oyedele
Oyedele described the claims as false and misleading, warning Nigerians against panic over misinformation surrounding recent tax and financial reforms.
In a post on his X handle Tuesday morning, he wrote: “Don’t let anyone manipulate you. Your bank account is safe. Misinformation makes you panic and fear a reform that is designed to help you.
“When they tell you that your account will be frozen or automatically debited from January 2026, ask them for the evidence in the new law. Be wise.”
He stressed that no provision in the new tax laws authorises the freezing of bank accounts, adding that the rumours are part of widespread misrepresentation of the reforms.
The committee chairman reiterated that the reforms are intended to simplify Nigeria’s tax system and ease the burden on ordinary citizens, not to impose punitive measures on bank customers.
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