Low awareness biggest threat to data protection in Nigeria, says expert
A data scientist, Oluwaleke Oni, has called for sustained public enlightenment on data rights, saying low awareness remains one of the greatest threats to personal data protection in Nigeria.
Mr Oni made the call in an interview with journalists in Ibadan on Saturday while speaking on the roles of government, technology companies and the media in strengthening data privacy awareness.
He said that the lack of awareness among the populace persists despite the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA).
According to him, many Nigerians are unaware that they have rights over their personal information, even though they routinely share such data through mobile applications, websites and online registration platforms.
“I think the biggest challenge is that many Nigerians don’t even know they have data rights.
“We use our phones every day, sign up for apps, fill online forms and accept terms and conditions without really knowing what happens to our personal information afterward,” he said.
The data scientist urged the government to integrate data protection education into regular public awareness campaigns, similar to initiatives on public health and road safety.
He said that citizens should not require legal or technical expertise to understand how their personal information is collected, processed and protected.
Mr Oni, an official of the National Space Research and Development Agency, also charged technology companies to simplify their privacy notices.
He said that this should be done by using plain language that clearly explains the type of data being collected, the purpose for collecting it and whether it would be shared with third parties.
According to him, lengthy and technical privacy policies discourage users from understanding how their personal information is handled.
He further described the media as a critical stakeholder in improving digital literacy among Nigerians.
According to Mr Oni, journalists should go beyond reporting incidents such as data breaches by explaining their implications for ordinary citizens and the measures people can take to safeguard their personal information.
“At the end of the day, awareness is our first line of defence.
“The more people understand the value of their personal data, the better equipped they’ll be to protect it,” he said.
Speaking on emerging privacy concerns, Mr Oni identified indiscriminate sharing of personal information and cross-border data transfers as some of the major risks confronting Nigerians in the digital age.
He noted that while storing or processing data outside Nigeria was not inherently problematic, it raised important questions about the legal protections available to users and whether they fully understood the consent they provided.
“Every time we download an app, use a website or create an online account, we’re often sharing much more information than we think,” he said.
Mr Oni commended the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, describing it as a significant milestone in strengthening the country’s data governance framework.
He, however, stressed that legislation alone would not guarantee effective privacy protection without robust implementation.
According to him, stronger regulatory enforcement, greater accountability for organisations handling personal information and continuous public education are essential to addressing evolving digital privacy challenges.
“Technology evolves quickly, so our policies and enforcement mechanisms also need to keep evolving,” he said.
(NAN)
