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By Chinenye Anuforo
Nigeria’s push to build a robust e-government system will collapse without strong safeguards for data privacy and citizen trust, the National Commissioner/CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, has warned.
Speaking at the Nigeria eGovernment Summit 2025 held Thursday in Lagos, Olatunji said trust and accountability are at the heart of digital governance, stressing that citizens will only embrace online platforms if they are confident their personal data is protected.
“At the heart of e-government is accountability. When people can trust what you do with their data, they will trust you with their lives. Without privacy, we cannot build the e-government of our dreams,” he said.
He highlighted the massive gains already achieved through digital reforms, including the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which has saved Nigeria over ₦10 trillion, the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), which eliminated more than 70,000 ghost workers, and the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), which saved ₦126 billion.
Olatunji also pointed to the NIN-enabled conditional cash transfer platform, which has disbursed ₦24 billion to vulnerable households with full transparency, ensuring funds reach beneficiaries directly and are traceable in real time.
According to him, e-government adoption could boost GDP in developing countries by up to 4.5% annually, while digital public services are typically 74% faster than physical ones. However, he cautioned that Nigeria must confront critical challenges, including poor infrastructure, low digital literacy, cybersecurity threats, and resistance to digital platforms caused by mistrust.
He said the Nigeria Data Protection Act provides the framework to address these risks by ensuring data is collected lawfully, stored securely, and used transparently, while safeguarding citizens’ rights such as consent, rectification, objection, and the right to be forgotten.
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“Trust is non-negotiable. If citizens fear their data is unsafe, they will avoid digital services altogether. Privacy is the foundation on which Nigeria’s e-government must be built,” Olatunji emphasized.
In his opening remarks, the Convener and Executive Chairman of DigiServe Network Services, Engr. Lanre Ajayi, said collaboration between government and the private sector remains the most powerful lever for driving e-government adoption.
“Over the past seven editions, this summit has created a trusted platform for collaboration, producing actionable recommendations that have informed reforms, investments and capacity building across different levels of government,” Ajayi said.
“This year, we want to turn ambitious plans into concrete actions that deliver faster, fairer, and more secure services for all Nigerians.”
Ajayi highlighted the summit’s focus on digital identity, interoperability, cybersecurity, open data, and citizen-centric design, while unveiling initiatives such as a matchmaking booth for government officials and service providers, and a dedicated media engagement corner for policy dialogue and product launches.
Representing the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Tunji Jimoh, Zonal Controller for Lagos, said the Commission is prioritizing broadband expansion as the foundation of digital governance. Broadband penetration has grown from 40% in 2020 to 48% in 2025, with several states waiving Right-of-Way charges to accelerate rollout.
“Universal access is no longer aspirational, it is a journey already underway. But no e-government can thrive without trust. That is why NCC is introducing a nationwide cybersecurity framework to strengthen digital resilience,” Jimoh noted.
On her part, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), stressed that digital identity is the “central nervous system” of e-governance.
“You cannot have e-government without e-citizens. The National Identification Number (NIN) is not just a number, it is the key that unlocks financial inclusion, social protection, and transparent service delivery,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Falilat Jimoh, representing the DG of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), argued that e-government should not be about “digitizing bureaucracy” but about creating seamless, people-centered services.
“Nigeria’s youthful population wants to pay taxes, register businesses, and access public services from their phones. Public-private partnerships are the only way to deliver this scale of transformation,” she said.
