1. Overview
Kova Digital Market Limited (“Kova”, “we”, “us”) operates the Kova mobile app and this website. This policy explains how we handle personal data when you create an account, browse listings, chat with a merchant, schedule an inspection, make a payment or contact support.
We collect what we need to run a trusted marketplace: enough to identify you, connect you with the right people, keep payments on record and prevent fraud. We do not sell personal data.
2. What we collect
Information you give us
- Full name, phone number, email address and account credentials.
- Your selected location — city, state or region.
- Social sign-in details where you use Google, Facebook or Apple, such as your name, email address, profile image and provider ID.
- Optional profile details, profile photo and any information you put into a listing, announcement or message.
- Where verification applies: your National Identification Number (NIN), the legal name attached to it, and identity documents you submit.
Information collected automatically
- Device and connection data such as language settings, IP address, time zone, device type and model, operating system, internet service provider and hardware identifiers.
- Usage data — the features you use, how often you use them and how long you spend in the app.
- Approximate or user-selected location. We do not collect precise GPS location unless you explicitly grant permission for a feature that needs it.
- Cookies and similar technologies on kovadml.com.
Transaction information
Payments are processed by our payment provider, Paystack. We do not store full card numbers. We may receive transaction data such as the date, time, amount, payment method and status, and we keep a receipt and reference in your transaction history.
3. How we use your data
- To create and secure your account and verify your identity.
- To show relevant listings and products, and to connect you with agents and vendors.
- To enable in-app chat, inspection scheduling and support.
- To process payments and maintain receipts and transaction records.
- To prevent fraud, investigate reports, enforce our terms and keep the marketplace safe.
- To improve the app and understand how features are used.
- To meet legal, tax and regulatory obligations.
We rely on your consent, the performance of our agreement with you, our legitimate interests in operating a safe marketplace, and legal obligations, as applicable under Nigerian data protection law.
4. NIN verification and document review
On eligible merchant plans, Kova may verify your identity using your National Identification Number issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Verification may cover your NIN, the legal name on it, whether it matches your account details, date of birth, address, gender and phone number, and other information NIMC or an authorised verification provider returns.
We use this to confirm identity, support trust and badge eligibility, prevent fraud and comply with the law. We may share your NIN and related information with NIMC or authorised verification providers, who may process data outside Nigeria under appropriate safeguards.
When you upload an identification document, automated tools provided by Dikript and other service providers may review image quality, consistency and signs of manipulation. You can ask for a manual review if a document is flagged or rejected.
6. How long we keep it
We keep personal data for as long as your account is active and for as long afterwards as we reasonably need it to meet legal obligations, resolve disputes, prevent fraud and enforce our agreements. Specific examples:
- Hashed email address and phone number may be kept after account deletion for fraud prevention.
- NIN verification records and identification documents are kept in line with Nigerian regulatory requirements and only as long as needed for verification or legal compliance.
- Transaction records are kept for the period required by Nigerian law.
- Information about blocked accounts is kept for security and fraud prevention.
7. Your rights
Subject to applicable law, you can ask to access, review, correct or delete your personal data, object to or restrict certain processing, and request a copy of the data we hold about you. You can update much of your information in the app's settings.
You can also object to automated decisions that affect your account, such as automated identity checks or fraud screening, and ask for a review. If you are unhappy with our response, you may complain to a competent data protection authority.
To exercise any of these rights, email admin@kovadml.com. We may need to confirm your identity before acting. Some data may be retained where the law requires it, and we will explain if that applies.
8. Contact
Questions about this policy or your data? Email admin@kovadml.com or write to Kova Digital Market Limited, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
We may update this policy as the product develops. Material changes will be reflected on this page and, where appropriate, in the app.