The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) revealed that it is investigating Zenith, GTB, Fidelity, Leadway Insurance, Babcock University, and others for alleged data breaches.

NDPC national commissioner Vincent Olatunji, made this known in a statement on Thursday.

Olatunji said the investigation of these organisations came following complaints from data subject.

The statement read: “In the last few weeks, the NDPC has received complaints bordering on unlawful data processing, unauthorised access to personal data and violation of data subjects’ rights,” stated the NDPC chief. “Under Part 10 of the newly signed NDPA 2023, a data controller with a turnover of N200 billion yearly may pay as high as N2 billion, which represents two per cent of the gross revenue.”

He added, “Not only that, offenders also risk up to one-year jail term. We are currently investigating Guarantee Trust Bank, Fidelity, Unity, Zenith banks, Leadway Insurance and Babcock University, among others, for data breach.”

Olatunji noted that, many micro-finance banks have yet to align their operations with data privacy and protection requirements.

According to him, loaning organisations would face the law with the new mandate of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

“The commission is investigating over 400 complaints in the online lending sector. Soko Loan is already working on a comeback to the digital lending market, but yet to be approved,” said the commissioner.”

He, however, noted that the commission was engaging in sensitisation exercises to ensure that data controllers understood the implications of a data breach.