Economy
Africa To shape Its Data Laws To Support Digital Economy Says Shettima
Africa To shape Its Data Laws To Support Digital Economy Says Shettima
Africa to shape its data laws to support digital economy says Shettima. Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on African countries to unite to build a shared data governance framework that protects citizens’ privacy and strengthens the continent’s digital economy.
Shettima spoke on Tuesday at the opening of the 8th annual conference of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) in Abuja.
The three-day conference is themed ‘Balancing Innovation in Africa: Data Protection and Privacy in Emerging Technologies’.
Shettima was represented by Ibrahim Hadejia, deputy chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu.
The high-level forum drew data protection regulators and experts from over 30 African countries, as well as participants from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States.
Shettima said data had become a tool of trust in the digital age and must be governed by policies that reflect African values and realities.
He urged African nations to collaborate, exchange best practices and build legal frameworks that prioritise privacy and innovation.
“As the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement expands the scale of inter-African exchange, our ability to share data securely and lawfully will define our capacity to thrive,” he said.
“That is why forums like this are not only welcome but essential. They offer us a chance to cross-pollinate ideas, to nurture human capital, and to strengthen mechanisms for mutual legal assistance.”
He added that a unified continental approach would ensure that Africa is not merely a passive consumer of global tech rules but a co-creator of digital norms.
FG LAUNCHES VIRTUAL PRIVACY ACADEMY
To deepen Nigeria’s leadership in data protection, the federal government also launched the Nigeria Virtual Privacy Academy.
Speaking at the launch, Bosun Tijani, minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, said the academy would accelerate the government’s push for a secure and inclusive digital economy.
Tijani said the platform is designed to provide practical data privacy training to professionals in the public and private sectors.
“To fully harness the benefits of digital trade and identity platforms, we must ensure that our value chains are secure, fair and transparent,” the minister said.
On his part, Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), said Nigeria had made significant progress in building a compliant and forward-looking data protection regime since the passage of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) in 2023.
Olatunji added that the commission had conducted over 5,000 compliance assessments, initiated 223 investigations and implemented remedial actions in 12 key cases.
He said the efforts had generated over $1.2 million in regulatory revenue within two years.
“Our focus remains on building a regulatory environment that supports innovation while safeguarding privacy,” Olatunji said.
The national commissioner also urged African countries yet to pass data protection laws to do so, stressing that “strong privacy regulations are not obstacles to innovation, but enablers of inclusive growth”.

Africa To shape Its Data Laws To Support Digital Economy
Iro Adamou, NADPA chairperson, represented by the group’s vice-president, Immaculate Kassiat, said the Abuja conference reinforced Africa’s shared commitment to protecting personal data in a rapidly digitising world.
“Our presence here is a testament to our unity and collective vision for a digital future that respects privacy,” he said.
Inga Stefanowicz, Nigeria’s head of section green economy, European Union (EU), also pledged continued support for data protection efforts in Africa.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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