Kano State Deputy Governor, Murtala Sule Garo, has called for stronger data protection measures as state governments increasingly rely on citizens’ personal information to deliver public services.
Garo, who represented Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at the Data Privacy Implementation Workshop for States, organised by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) in partnership with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), said governments must pay greater attention to how personal information is collected, processed, stored and shared.
The workshop was aimed at helping state governments translate the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act into practical systems and procedures across their institutions.
The Deputy Governor noted that government agencies handle large volumes of sensitive information in areas including education, healthcare, social protection, taxation, civil registration, employment, security and digital services.
He stressed that protecting such information should not be viewed merely as a regulatory obligation, but as a responsibility tied to the trust citizens place in government.
Garo said the issue was particularly important for Kano as the state expands the use of digital systems and services, adding that data protection must be integrated into government policies and the daily operations of officials who have access to citizens’ information.
He also emphasised the roles of political leaders, permanent secretaries, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, information technology professionals, legal officers, data protection officers and other public servants in safeguarding personal information.
The workshop examined practical areas requiring greater attention, including staff training, data security, access controls, data retention, breach management and responsible information sharing.
Garo said the expansion of digital government made it increasingly important to strike a balance between innovation, efficiency, privacy and security, ensuring that digital services do not expose citizens to unnecessary risks or undermine their fundamental rights.
He welcomed the collaboration between the NGF and NDPC, saying the workshop provided states with an opportunity to address practical challenges in implementing the Nigeria Data Protection Act and share approaches that could strengthen data protection across government institutions.
The workshop is expected to equip states with practical guidance to improve data protection practices, strengthen the security of public information and enhance public confidence in the way governments handle citizens’ data.
