Google Colab cannot access Github private repositories

Update: Colab now supports Github private repositories.

to clarify: you have to go to open notebook and then to the github tab, there you can enable private repositories. After this you can save your notebook to a private repository.

I encountered the same problem. You should give colab access to your private data to fix it:

1. Go to colab main page colab.research.google.com.
2. Go to GitHub tab.
3. Check the checkbox with the label "include private repos".
4. Then colab will request access to your private GitHub data, you should provide it.
5. After this you should see private repos in a list when you try to save a notebook in GitHub.