The Nigerian government has made it clear that online insurance businesses must now be licensed before operating in the country. President Bola Tinubu recently signed the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025 into law. Among other things, the law requires that any person or company offering insurance services over the internet or electronically must first get a license from the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). This is to ensure proper regulation and protect consumers from unregulated operations. Section 201 of the Act states clearly: no one can start or run a web-based insurance business without a commission-issued license. NAICOM also has the power to set rules and impose penalties if companies break these rules. The law goes beyond licensing by requiring insurance providers to have strict policies to stop terrorism financing and money laundering. This includes knowing their customers well (KYC), anti-money laundering (AML) procedures, and measures against financing weapons of mass destruction. Penalties for breaking the law are stiff. Individuals caught running unlicensed insurance businesses face fines of up to N25 million. For companies, fines can reach N50 million, and top executives might face prison sentences of up to two years. This law is part of a bigger reform to modernize Nigeria’s insurance sector, make it more secure, and encourage digital business growth, all aimed at boosting Nigeria’s economy towards becoming a $1 trillion market.
NNPC backs out sale of Port Harcourt refinery, reaffirms national commitment
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has officially announced that it will not sell the Port Harcourt Refinery, promising to complete its rehabilitation and keep the plant under national control. This new position was confirmed by NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, during a company-wide town hall meeting at NNPC Towers, Abuja, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. The official statement was widely reported by national dailies including Premium Times, Punch, and Nairametrics. Ojulari clarified that the company’s decision is based on technical and financial reviews of Nigeria’s main refineries. According to Premium Times, Ojulari explained, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Ltd has officially ruled out sale of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, reaffirming its commitment to completing high-graded rehabilitation and retention of the plant”. He further stated that “the emerging outlook calls for more advanced technical partnerships to complete and upgrade the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery. Thus, selling is highly unlikely as it would lead to further value erosion”. Reporting from Nairametrics adds that feedback from NNPC staff after the announcement was positive, as many described the move as “reassuring” and “transformational” for the company’s direction. Recent speculation about a possible sale followed Ojulari’s earlier comments at the 2025 OPEC Seminar, where he said “all options are on the table” for Nigeria’s non-performing refineries. Ojulari clarified at the town hall that the current decision is not a reversal, but instead, “informed by ongoing detailed technical and financial reviews” NNPC says it will continue to prioritize transparency and professional management, with the refinery’s rehabilitation remaining a top priority for Nigeria’s broader energy security and for retaining critical assets under national control. The Port Harcourt Refinery will stay government-owned as NNPC moves forward with its rehabilitation plan, which industry watchers and staff hope will boost local fuel supply and reduce Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imports.
Meta bows to South African court, will hand over WhatsApp data linked to Abuse of School Children
Meta, which owns WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, has agreed to share user details of accounts that distributed explicit content involving South African school children, ending a tense court face-off with local authorities. The story began when a South African law firm, the Digital Law Company, discovered disturbing content being shared on WhatsApp and Instagram, private images and details of schoolchildren, posted for all to see. Worse, new accounts were being created every few minutes, making it hard to stop the spread. The firm quickly got a court order forcing Meta to shut down more than 60 of these channels and pages. The court also demanded Meta hand over details, names, emails, numbers, IP addresses, of those behind the accounts so police could act. At first, Meta did not comply. This led to a contempt of court case, with the threat that Meta’s top official in Southern Africa could be jailed for ignoring the order. Meta argued the wrong corporate divisions were named in the court action and hesitated, but critics said the tech giant simply wasn’t willing to act, even though the safety of children was at risk. The tide turned as public pressure grew and more child protection groups raised the alarm. Under mounting criticism, and the hammer of the court, Meta finally said it would supply the information required within three business days, as long as the details stayed confidential. The court ruling also set up a two-year direct hotline between Meta and the Digital Law Company to respond to future urgent cases. Emma Sadleir, who led the Digital Law Company team, celebrated the verdict: “We are absolutely elated at the judgment handed down by the Johannesburg High Court today. We welcome this victory and will be celebrating.” Thandi Mokoena, a spokesperson for a Johannesburg-based child welfare group, said: “This sends a strong message that tech companies cannot hide behind privacy policies when children’s safety is at stake.” Not everyone is fully at ease. The South African Digital Rights Forum urged caution: “While protecting children is paramount, we must ensure that data disclosures do not set a precedent for unchecked surveillance.” Legal experts say this case could reshape how tech giants respond to local laws in Africa. “It’s a balancing act between user privacy and public interest,” said Karl Blom, a senior associate at a leading law firm. He noted that Meta’s move shows courts in Africa can pressure global firms, but it also opens up tough questions about just how far such orders should go. This ruling may effect changes beyond South Africa, as Nigeria and Kenya also face growing calls for big tech companies to respect tough data privacy rules. The issue touches on more than just one country, how companies handle data protection, privacy promises, and their duty to protect the public. For users, there’s a dilemma. Many are relieved to see fast action against cybercrime, but some worry this could be the first step towards less privacy on messaging platforms. WhatsApp’s encryption might protect the content of messages, but subscriber data, account details and connection info, can still reveal identities. South Africa’s privacy regulator is also not letting up, warning tech giants that scrutiny will only grow if they don’t follow local law.
Meta battles $32.8 million data privacy fine as NDPC seeks dismissal of lawsuit
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has told a Federal High Court in Abuja to throw out Meta’s challenge to its $32.8 million data privacy fine, insisting the tech giant broke the rules. Federal regulators and Meta Platforms Inc., the company behind Facebook and Instagram, are in a legal fight over one of the largest data privacy fines in Nigeria’s history. NDPC fined Meta $32.8 million earlier this year and demanded the company follow eight corrective orders for allegedly mishandling the personal data of Nigerian users. The trouble started after a civil society group, Personal Data Protection Awareness Initiative (PDPAI), petitioned NDPC. PDPAI accused Meta of running targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram without clear permission from local users. NDPC’s investigation dug up several serious issues, like using sensitive personal details, including information about minors, changing journalists’ profiles, and circulating explicit childbirth videos without consent. The Commission also slammed Meta for not submitting a required compliance audit from 2022, breaking rules on moving user data abroad, and even collecting details on people who don’t use its platforms. Meta disagrees with both the findings and how the case got to this point. The company took NDPC to court, saying they were not given a fair hearing or enough warning to respond before the ruling. Their legal team is arguing that the orders go against the Nigerian Constitution’s guarantee of fair process. NDPC, on its part, asked the court to end Meta’s case right away. Their lawyer, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, said Meta’s court filings don’t add up and break the court’s rules for such lawsuits. He claimed Meta is trying to change what it is asking for under the cover of an amendment, which isn’t allowed. Meta’s lawyers responded in April, asking for permission to tidy up and match their documents. They say this correction would clear things up but would not harm NDPC’s position. Justice James Omotosho allowed Meta to start its judicial review but refused to pause NDPC’s enforcement orders. He set a faster timetable for hearings and adjourned to October 3, when he will give a combined ruling on the main points. NDPC said Meta’s actions were a serious threat to the data rights of Nigerians, and the fine is part of wider efforts to protect users since the Nigeria Data Protection Act became law in June 2023. “Meta’s suit is grossly incompetent,” NDPC argued in court. Meta’s team insists they deserve a fair hearing: “We were denied due process and an opportunity to respond before these orders were made,” the company’s lead counsel said. On October 3, 2025, the court will decide if Meta’s case moves forward or if NDPC’s fine stands. NDPC has already shown it means business, it recently fined Multichoice Nigeria over similar privacy breaches.
Nigeria says no to nuclear weapons, focuses on fighting poverty and climate change
Nigeria has made it clear it will not pursue nuclear weapons, choosing instead to tackle poverty and climate challenges at home and across Africa. Vice President Kashim Shettima announced Nigeria’s position on Monday, July 7, 2025, during a meeting with Dr. Robert Floyd, head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Shettima said Nigeria’s main priorities are fighting poverty and dealing with the effects of climate change, not building nuclear weapons. He stressed that nuclear conflict brings only loss, not victory. “The outcome of any nuclear conflict is never a win-win situation; it is always the opposite. We are fighting poverty; we are fighting a war against the relationship between the economy and ecology in sub-Saharan Africa. We have no business dabbling in anything that has to do with nuclear weapons,” Shettima stated. Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans nuclear weapons testing worldwide. The Vice President praised the CTBTO’s global network of over 300 monitoring stations, saying they help detect nuclear activity and natural disasters, and thanked the organisation for supporting global security. Dr. Robert Floyd, the CTBTO Executive Secretary, commended Nigeria’s leadership in the global campaign against nuclear weapons. He highlighted the important technical work done by the Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), especially in providing data to monitor environmental hazards. Other senior officials at the meeting included Engr. Anthony Ekedegwa, Acting Chairman of NAEC; Dr. Yau Idris, Director General of NNRA; and Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit cemented Nigeria’s role as a key African voice against nuclear testing and showed its commitment to peace, environmental safety, and sustainable growth.
House Committee questions N24 billion proposal for Rivers State CCTV project
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee overseeing Rivers State has challenged the state government’s plan to allocate N24 billion for Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) in its 2025 budget. The committee chairman, Julius Ihonbvere, on Monday gave the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eke Ibas (retd), 48 hours to provide a detailed breakdown of the major items in the 2025 Appropriation Bill. He also demanded the submission of the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which is constitutionally required before the budget presentation. This move shows the committee’s insistence on transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, especially for large security-related expenditures. The MTEF is crucial as it outlines the government’s medium-term fiscal strategy and ensures that budget proposals align with broader economic goals. The Rivers State government has yet to respond publicly to the ultimatum. Observers say the outcome will affect how security infrastructure projects are funded and monitored in the state. The next steps will depend on the Rivers State administration’s response within the given timeframe and whether the committee will approve or further question the budget proposal.