Overview
Welcome to Rokins ("we", "us", or "our"). Rokins is Nigeria's open marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of products and services across all 36 states.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use the Rokins website, mobile application, or any related services (collectively, the "Platform").
By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Platform.
Information We Collect
We collect information you provide directly, information generated automatically, and information from third parties.
| Category | Examples | When Collected |
|---|---|---|
| Account Data | Full name, email address, phone number, password hash | Registration |
| Profile Data | Business name, address, state, LGA, logo/photo | Profile setup (sellers) |
| Listing Data | Product/service title, description, photos, price, location | Creating a listing |
| Usage Data | Pages visited, search queries, listings viewed, time on site | Automatically |
| Device Data | IP address, browser type, device type, operating system | Automatically |
| Communications | Messages between buyers and sellers on the Platform | Messaging feature |
We do not directly collect payment card details. Any payment processing is handled by regulated third-party payment providers.
How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
- Account & identity management — creating and securing your account, verifying your identity via OTP, keeping you signed in.
- Marketplace operations — displaying listings, facilitating contact between buyers and sellers, managing your saved items and recently viewed listings.
- Search & recommendations — improving search relevance and showing relevant listings based on your location and browsing history.
- Communications — sending transactional emails (OTP codes, account alerts), and platform notifications.
- Safety & trust — detecting and preventing fraud, abuse, spam, and policy violations.
- Analytics & improvement — understanding how users navigate the Platform to improve performance and user experience.
- Legal compliance — meeting our obligations under Nigerian law, responding to lawful requests from authorities.
Sharing & Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:
- With other users — public listing data only. When you post a listing, your business name, general location (state/LGA), and listing details are publicly visible. Your email and phone are only shared when you initiate contact.
- Service providers. We engage trusted third parties (e.g., email delivery, cloud hosting, payment processors) who process data on our behalf under strict data processing agreements.
- Legal obligations. We may disclose information if required by Nigerian law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of Rokins, our users, or the public.
- Business transfers. In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, user data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before your data is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
Cookies & Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve the Platform.
| Cookie Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Session cookies | Keeping you logged in, remembering your recently viewed listings | Until browser close |
| Preference cookies | Remembering your "keep me signed in" choice and filter preferences | 30 days |
| Analytics cookies | Understanding which pages and features are used most | 12 months |
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling all cookies may limit Platform functionality (e.g., you will not remain signed in).
Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including:
- HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted between your device and our servers.
- Passwords stored as one-way hashes — we never store plain-text passwords.
- OTP-based login for user accounts, reducing password exposure.
- Regular security reviews and access controls on our infrastructure.
No system is 100% secure. In the event of a data breach that affects your rights, we will notify you as required by applicable Nigerian law.
Data Retention
We keep your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services. Specifically:
- Account data is retained while your account remains active and for up to 90 days after deletion.
- Listing data may be retained for analytics purposes in anonymised form after a listing is removed.
- Log data (IP addresses, request logs) is retained for up to 12 months for security purposes.
- Transaction records may be retained for up to 7 years to comply with Nigerian financial record-keeping requirements.
Your Rights
Under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of access — Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification — Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to erasure — Request deletion of your account and personal data (subject to legal retention requirements).
- Right to portability — Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Right to object — Object to processing based on our legitimate interests.
- Right to withdraw consent — Where processing is based on consent, withdraw it at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the address below. We will respond within 30 days.
Children's Privacy
The Rokins Platform is not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with their personal data, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.
Third-Party Links
The Platform may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., seller social media pages, external payment portals). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or applicable law. When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.
- Send a notification to your registered email address for significant changes.
- Display a banner on the Platform for 30 days following a material update.
Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your data rights, or want to report a privacy concern, please reach out:
Rokins Data & Privacy Team
Email: privacy@rokins.com.ng
Address: Nigeria
Response time: We aim to respond to all privacy requests within 30 days.