General
SERAP Wants Privacy Details of Election Data from INEC
By Adedapo Adesanya
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Mahmood Yakubu, has been urged to publish the details of safeguards and mechanisms put in place to protect the privacy and security of election information and data in the custody of the organisation, including in its servers, databases and other electronic formats.
This appeal was made by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in a Freedom of Information (FoI) request dated March 26, 2022.
In the document signed by SERAP deputy director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged him to “clarify whether any third-party is involved in the collection, control, and use of election information and data, the legal rules and processes guiding the choice of any such third party”.
SERAP also urged him to “clarify the other location or locations where election information is stored apart from Abuja, and the details of any third-party who has access to such a database, the safeguards and contingency plans put in place by INEC to address any threats to the privacy and security of election information”.
“Ensuring adequate safeguards and mechanisms to protect the privacy and security of election information and data would improve the ability of INEC to effectively discharge its constitutional and statutory duties”.
SERAP said: “This would also help to remove risks of attack and unlawful interference by any unauthorised person with election information and data”.
According to SERAP, “Widely publishing the details of safeguards and mechanisms of election data and information would also contribute to improving the sanctity and integrity of the electoral process, and public trust and confidence in the process”.
The letter, read in part: “Putting in place adequate technological security measures to prevent unauthorized access to election information and data would improve the credibility of the electoral process and the enjoyment of people’s right to participate in their own government.
“As an institution, which collects, controls and uses election-related information and data in the discharge of its constitutional and statutory duties, INEC has a legal responsibility to ensure adequate protection of such information and data from threats and vulnerabilities to attack or interference.
“Any interference by unauthorised third party in election information and data may be used for corrupt, political and other unlawful purposes, and would expose election systems to fraud and meddling, as well undermine the right to participation and the country’s democratic system.
“The right of people to participate in their government is a fundamental feature of any democratic society, and any infringement of privacy and security of election information and data would strike at the heart of representative government.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel INEC to comply with our request in the public interest.
“SERAP notes that voter registration systems and voting systems are the most vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation by corrupt politicians and other actors.
“As the experiences in other countries have shown, election information is often susceptible to unlawful interference by corrupt politicians and other actors, which can be damaging to the integrity of the electoral process and democratic practices.
“The experiences of other countries demonstrate the need for INEC to take effective and transparent measures to ensure and protect the privacy and security of election information and data, which would protect the integrity of the country’s democracy.
“Any privacy or security weakness in any component of any of the election systems can be easily exploited to cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral process.
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s international obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance.
“SERAP notes that Section 9(2)(a) of the Electoral Act 2022 provides that INEC ‘shall keep the Register of Voters in its National Headquarters and other locations as the Commission may determine.’ The provision also states that INEC ‘shall keep the Register of Voters in electronic format in its central database.’
“Section 153 of the Act defines ‘electronic format’ to include ‘the electronic version of the Register of Voters or National Electronic Register of Election Results, as the case may be, created, recorded, transmitted or stored in digital form or in other intangible forms by electronic, magnetic or optical means or by any other means.”
The organisation said: “Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights protect against arbitrary or unlawful interference with one’s privacy.
“Interference with the privacy of election information and data would clearly undermine the security of any such information and data. Similarly, Article 9 (1) of the African Charter provides that, ‘Every individual shall have the right to receive information.
“Article 2(10) of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance requires states parties including Nigeria to ‘promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation, transparency, access to information, and accountability in the management of public affairs.’”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed that the anticipated Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme (NOGaPS) will become operational by the fourth quarter of 2026.
According to a statement by the General Manager of Corporate Communications Division at NCDMB, Mr Obinna Ezeobi, ahead of the target date for the park located at Emeyal-1, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the NCDMB is set to install a 2.5-megawatt Com- pressed Natural Gas (CNG) power plant at the park.
He added that the power plant is one of the key steps to getting the facility operational, as it will provide a reliable and sustainable electricity supply to support industrial operations within the park.
Mr Ezeobi gave the assurance after an assessment visit to the facility by key personnel of the Board.
According to the statement, the tour revealed significant progress across key infrastructure and support systems designed to position the facility as a major industrial hub for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme was conceived to deepen Nigerian Content by providing a conducive environment for the manufacturing of components, equipment and other inputs required by the oil and gas industry, while creating employment opportunities for over 2000 persons when fully operational, and stimulating economic growth.
The oil and gas park scheme is a purpose-built industrial park with manufacturing shop floors and factories, warehouses, training centres, mini estates, truck parking and holding spaces, fire stations, administrative blocks, and security services, among other things, and is a critical initiative of the board geared towards in-country capacity development through local manufacture of equipment components and spare parts required in the oil and gas industry.
Six parks have been conceptualised and are located in different parts of the country, and they form a key part of NCDMB’s strategy for sustainable local content development and industrialisation. Two of the parks at Odukpani, Cross River State, and at Emeyal 1, Bayelsa State, have been completed, and interested companies have begun to take up shop floors, preparatory to the commencement of operations.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A partnership for the integration of Onafriq’s leading pan-African payment network into Yuno’s orchestration platform has been entered into between the two organisations.
This collaboration gives merchants a single connection to Africa’s most expansive payments infrastructure, bringing the continent’s most expansive payments infrastructure to merchants worldwide.
Through this integration, Yuno’s clients gain instant access to Onafriq’s network spanning 43 African markets, nearly one billion mobile wallets, 500 million bank accounts, and 2,000 cross-border payment corridors, all through Yuno’s single, developer-friendly API.
The partnership is part of Yuno’s broader strategy to build a truly global platform that connects merchants to every meaningful payment method and network, regardless of geography. Following successful expansion in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, Africa is a key pillar of Yuno’s next phase of growth.
For Onafriq, the integration with Yuno extends its reach to an entirely new segment of global merchants who now benefit from a streamlined entry point into African markets. The partnership reinforces Onafriq’s mission of making borders matter less, bringing together mobile money operators, banks, fintechs, and enterprises into one connected payment ecosystem.
“Africa represents one of the most exciting growth opportunities in global commerce, and yet too many merchants are still locked out by payment infrastructure that wasn’t built for scale.
“Our partnership with Onafriq changes that. By bringing their unmatched African network into our infrastructure layer, we’re giving our clients a single path to a continent-wide ecosystem with the reliability, compliance, and local depth they need to grow with confidence,” the chief executive of Yuno, Mr Juan Pablo Ortega, stated.
Also commenting, the chief executive of Onafriq, Mr Dare Okoudjou, said, “Africa’s payment landscape has never lacked ambition or momentum; what it needed is the right infrastructure that matches its pace.
“Our partnership with Yuno changes the equation for global merchants who want to be part of this growth story. Through a single connection, global merchants can reach consumers and businesses across Africa more seamlessly than ever before, while more people across the continent gain access to the digital economy on their own terms. For us, this is what making borders matter less looks like in practice.”
Onafriq’s infrastructure supports the full payment lifecycle, from real-time disbursements and omnichannel collections to card issuance, treasury management, and stablecoin settlement, all underpinned by local regulatory licences and ISO 27001 and CMML3-certified security.
For Yuno’s merchant base, this means the ability to pay out to mobile wallets, bank accounts, or cash pickup points, and accept payments across channels, without managing multiple integrations or compliance frameworks independently.
The integration is now live and available across Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Uganda. Yuno’s clients can access Onafriq’s capabilities, including mobile money disbursements and collections, card issuance, and FX treasury services, directly from the Yuno dashboard with no additional contract or integration required.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to court over its alleged failure to account for N5.9 billion reportedly spent on its rebranding and transitioning from a corporation to a liability company.
In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking an order compelling the national oil firm to explain how the funds were spent and disclose the officials and contractors involved in the process.
According to the organisation, the NNPC allegedly spent N2.9 billion from petroleum product proceeds on incorporation expenses, while the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) reportedly charged another N2.9 billion to crude oil revenue for the same purpose, bringing the total expenditure to about N5.9 billion.
SERAP said it is seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPCL to account for about N5.9 billion allegedly spent on the rebranding of the NNPC to the NNPCL.”
The group also asked the court to compel the company to provide “a comprehensive reconciliation statement detailing the specific financial transactions relating to the N5.9 billion expenditure, including the identities of the contractors involved and how the funds were utilised.”
It further requested the disclosure of the names and official positions of government officials who authorised and approved the expenditure, as well as clarification on whether the spending complied with procurement laws and due-process requirements.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1248/2026, was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
The legal action was filed on behalf of SERAP by lawyers, Ms Oluwakemi Agunbiade, Ms Kehinde Oyewumi and Mr Andrew Nwankwo.
According to SERAP, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts had reportedly raised concerns over the expenditure categorised as incorporation and transition costs during the transformation process.
“The Committee described the spending of the ₦5.9 billion as excessive, unjustifiable and deserving of further explanation, investigation and legislative scrutiny in the public interest,” the organisation stated.
SERAP argued that the public has a right to know how the funds were spent, insisting that transparency and accountability must guide the operations of the state-owned oil company.
“The NNPCL has a legal responsibility to explain whether the ₦5.9 billion expenditure represents value for money, constitutes lawful spending of public funds, and complies with applicable due-process requirements,” SERAP said.
“There ought to be full transparency and accountability regarding the reported ₦5.9 billion spent on rebranding NNPC to NNPCL. Nigerians have the right to know who approved the expenditure, who received the funds, the nature of the services rendered, and whether due process and procurement requirements were strictly followed.”
The organisation added that disclosing the identities of the officials involved and the approval process would enable Nigerians to assess whether the expenditure was properly authorised and in line with extant laws.
SERAP further argued that the alleged failure to account for the funds reflects broader accountability concerns within the NNPCL.
“The failure to account for the spending of the ₦5.9 billion on the rebranding from NNPC to NNPCL reflects a broader failure of accountability and is directly linked to the institution’s continuing inability to uphold transparency and accountability principles,” it stated.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn