FG fines Multichoice N766m over data privacy breach

The Federal Government has imposed a fine of ₦766,242,500 on Multichoice Nigeria for breaching the Nigeria Data Protection Act, following findings that the company violated subscribers’ privacy rights and unlawfully transferred citizens’ personal data across national borders.

The sanction was announced by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in a statement on Sunday. According to Babatunde Bamigboye, the Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations at NDPC, the fine follows an investigation that began in the second quarter of 2024 after concerns emerged over Multichoice’s data handling practices.

“The depth of data processing by Multichoice is patently intrusive, unfair, unnecessary, and disproportionate,” the statement read. “This is a grave affront to the fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The NDPC said the probe revealed multiple violations, including the unauthorised processing of personal data belonging not only to Multichoice subscribers but also to individuals with no customer relationship with the company. It also found that Multichoice had transferred Nigerians’ data abroad without meeting legal requirements.

The commission stated that it had initially directed Multichoice to take corrective steps in line with regulatory procedures, but the company’s response was deemed inadequate. “For want of cooperation, the commission has directed Multichoice to pay ₦766,242,500 for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act,” Bamigboye said.

The National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has now ordered a broader investigation into all Multichoice data collection points nationwide, warning that any outlet found in breach of the Act would face penalties.

The NDPC emphasized that Nigeria will defend its data sovereignty in line with both local and international frameworks. It added that violations of this nature threaten not just individual privacy but also national security, legal integrity, and economic stability.

This fine marks the latest in a string of regulatory challenges for Multichoice Nigeria. Earlier in February 2025, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) ordered the company to suspend a planned subscription price increase pending investigation. Despite the directive, Multichoice implemented the hike on March 1, 2025, prompting further legal action.

The FCCPC subsequently filed criminal charges against Multichoice Nigeria and its Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe. The charges include obstruction of a regulatory investigation, defiance of official orders, and dissemination of misleading information, all in violation of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 2018.

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