Nigeria Orders Probe of Temu Over Alleged Data Violation

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian government, through the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), has ordered an immediate investigation into the data processing activities of Chinese-owned e-commerce platform, Temu, over alleged violations of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).

The decision raises fresh concerns about how foreign technology companies collect, store, and transfer Nigerians’ personal data.

In a press release dated February 16, the NDPC said its chief executive, Mr Vincent Olatunji, authorised the probe following mounting concerns around online surveillance, excessive personal data collection, lack of transparency, weak accountability mechanisms, and cross-border data transfers.

“The investigation of Temu was triggered by concerns around online surveillance through personal data processing, accountability, data minimisation requirement, transparency, duty of care and cross-border data transfer,” the statement read in part..

Preliminary findings by the commission indicate that Temu processes the personal data of an estimated 12.7 million Nigerian users, while serving about 70 million daily active users globally, raising serious questions about how Nigerians’ data are collected, stored, shared, and protected.

“The National Commissioner warned that processors who engage in processing activities on behalf of data controllers without verifying their compliance with the NDP Act may be liable under the NDP Act,” the Commission added.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and one of the continent’s fastest-growing digital markets with millions of its citizens relying on mobile apps, social media platforms, fintech services, and e-commerce sites for daily transactions often with little understanding of how their personal information is being used.

For Temu, this marks the latest government probe into its activities. The e-commerce company has faced investigations, lawsuits, and regulatory scrutiny across multiple continents, focusing primarily on data privacy, product safety, unethical labor practices, and unfair competition.

The European Commission opened formal proceedings against Temu in October 2024 and issued preliminary findings in July 2025, accusing the platform of failing to prevent the sale of illegal, unsafe, or counterfeit products while a 2023 US House Select Committee report highlighted an “extremely high risk” that products on Temu are made with forced labour.

Other countries including Germany, South Korea, South Africa, and Brazil have also probed into Temu’s activities.

In its official statement, Temu said, “Protecting user privacy and data security is a top priority. We are committed to complying with applicable laws and regulations in our data practices. We will continue to engage in open and constructive dialogue with the NDPC to address any questions or concerns.”

Editor’s Note

This article has been updated with Temu’s official response to the development.