NDPC Launches Major Data Protection Probe on Moniepoint, Merrybet, and Top Financial Firms
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has initiated a sweeping, sector-specific investigation into numerous companies suspected of breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act, 2023). This significant move targets prominent entities across Nigeria’s thriving fintech and financial services landscape, signaling a heightened focus on data privacy and compliance within the African tech ecosystem. Among the high-profile names facing scrutiny are Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, eTranzact, and Merrybet, highlighting the NDPC’s commitment to enforcing data protection regulations.
Key Compliance Demands and Targeted Companies
Details of the probe emerged from a public notice published by Businesday on August 25, 2025. This notice mandates dozens of organizations, including household brands like Abeg Technologies, Chams Plc, FBN Mortgages, Leadway Assurance, Coronation Insurance, and Zenith Pensions, to provide irrefutable documentary evidence within a strict 21-day timeframe. Specifically, these firms must demonstrate they filed their NDP Act compliance audit returns for 2024, formally designated a Data Protection Officer (DPO), registered as a data controller or processor of major importance where applicable, and implemented adequate technical and organizational measures to safeguard personal data. The NDPC has issued a stern warning that any failure to meet these requirements could lead to immediate enforcement orders, emphasizing the gravity of data protection compliance for Nigerian businesses.
This decisive action by the NDPC underscores Nigeria’s dedication to establishing and maintaining robust data protection standards. As the digital economy expands rapidly across Africa, particularly within the fintech and financial sectors, adherence to the NDP Act is paramount. Companies operating in this dynamic environment must prioritize data privacy and cybersecurity to foster user trust, protect sensitive information, and avoid the legal and reputational consequences of non-compliance with the nation’s pivotal data protection legislation.
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