‎Federal Government Launches Probe Into Temu Over Alleged Breach of Nigeria’s Data Protection Act

‎Federal Government Launches Probe Into Temu Over Alleged Breach of Nigeria’s Data Protection Act
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‎The federal government, through the he Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has ordered an immediate investigation into the data processing practices of global e-commerce platform Temu over alleged violations of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act), 2023.
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‎In a press release dated February 16, 2026, the NDPC disclosed that the directive was issued by the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Vincent Olatunji. The investigation follows mounting concerns about Temu’s handling of personal data belonging to Nigerian users.
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‎According to the Commission, the probe was triggered by issues relating to online surveillance through personal data processing, accountability obligations, data minimisation requirements, transparency standards, duty of care, and cross-border data transfers.
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‎Preliminary findings indicate that Temu processes personal information of approximately 12.7 million data subjects in Nigeria. Globally, the platform reportedly records about 70 million daily active users, underscoring the potential scale and impact of any data protection violations.
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‎The NDPC also issued a caution to data processors operating on behalf of data controllers, warning that entities engaging in processing activities without verifying compliance with the NDP Act could be held liable under Nigerian law.
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‎The statement was signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, Esq., CDPPR, Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at the Commission.
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‎The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for digital platforms operating in Nigeria, particularly those involved in large-scale personal data processing and international data transfers.
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‎If the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) ultimately finds Temu guilty of violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act), the company could face a range of legal sanctions under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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