Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has said that it’s working with other governments agencies to ensure that it protect Nigerians from unsolicited phone calls by digital lending apps, also known as loan sharks.
Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner/ CEO of the commission, disclosed this at the sidelines of a sensitisation workshop on data privacy/protection held on Wednesday in Lagos.
Dr. Olatunji noted that the commission is working with other government agencies like the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission (FCCPC), NITDA, NCC, CBN, ICPC, EFCC to ensure that the data privacy of Nigerians is not breached by loan shark firms.
According to him, “We]re working together with a lot of regulators on unsolicited phone calls from loan sharks.
“We have the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission (FCCPC), NITDA, NCC, CBN, ICPC, EFCC, we are all working together to address this issue because it is about our citizens and the vulnerable groups that loan small amount of money and if they default once or twice, these loan sharks will start publishing their names which is illegal in any case, so we are already dealing with it.
“Very soon this will stop in Nigeria because we’re using multi-sectoral approach, we're bringing a lot of regulators together for this cause”.
While disclosing that one of the lending apps was recently fined N50m, he said it is now mandatory for all digital lending apps to get the certification of their privacy policy from NDPC as part of the criteria for their registration with FCCPC.
Speaking further on reasons for the sensitization program, Dr.Olatunji said that the commission is committed to sensitizing Data controllers and processors on the duty of care and accountability to ensure that data collected is protected in terms of technological measures, and in terms of organisational measures so that data collected is secured.
Also, he added that the workshop was to create awareness for data processors and controllers on the need to build confidence and trust in our Nigerian system.
