Alabi Sunday, former chairman of the Nigeria Computer Society Abuja Chapter, has advised the federal government to strengthen existing data protection laws to align with international best practices.

Mr Sunday said this in Abuja on Wednesday in an interview to commemorate the ‘Data Privacy Week’.

Mr Sunday said Nigeria should be able to meet international standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

He underscored the need for consistent public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the importance of data privacy, their rights, and how to protect their personal information.

“There should be collaboration with media outlets, schools, and community organisations to reach a wide audience. The relevant stakeholders should invest in training programmes for government officials, businesses, and individuals to enhance their understanding of data privacy principles and practices and encourage the development of local expertise in data protection,’’ he said.

According to him, mandated organisations that handle personal data should appoint data protection officers responsible for ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.

He said there was a need to implement a requirement for organisations to conduct privacy impact assessments before deploying new technologies or systems that involve processing personal data.

Mr Sunday said the relevant stakeholders should emphasise the importance of cybersecurity measures to protect against data breaches and unauthorised access to personal information, saying it will encourage the private sector to adopt robust cybersecurity practices.

According to him, there should be a collaboration with international organisations and neighbouring countries to address cross-border data privacy issues and promote harmonisation of data protection standards.

“There is a need to establish mechanisms for monitoring and enforcing compliance with data protection laws and impose penalties for organisations that fail to adequately protect personal data or violate data protection regulations.

“There should be policies that require certain types of sensitive data to be stored locally to ensure better control and protection.

“By addressing these areas, the Nigerian government and stakeholders can contribute to a more robust and privacy-conscious environment for individuals and businesses alike,” he said.

(NAN)