The Data Knowledge and Information Privacy Protection Initiative has warned that widespread ignorance of data privacy practices is exposing Nigeria to serious national security and economic risks amid a rise in ransomware attacks.

The president of DKIPPI, Tokunbo Smith, gave this warning on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mr Smith said the increasing frequency of ransomware incidents underscores the dangers of weak data protection systems across organisations and institutions.

He described ransomware attacks as a growing threat in which hackers infiltrate systems, demand payments and threaten to leak sensitive data.

Mr Smith said, “The cost of ignorance in data privacy is not just what you lose. It is what you expose. Data privacy has evolved beyond a technical concern to a critical governance and national development issue requiring urgent attention. Ransomware is no longer just cybercrime; it is economic warfare and a governance issue.”

Mr Smith urged both public and private sector leaders to adopt proactive and comprehensive data protection frameworks to safeguard sensitive information and strengthen institutional resilience.

He also called on government at all levels to go beyond punitive responses and implement stronger regulations, enforcement mechanisms, and national cyber resilience strategies.

According to him, DKIPPI will soon release a policy advocacy paper outlining the key risks associated with poor data protection practices.

He said the paper would highlight financial losses, institutional inefficiencies, and threats to national security, while recommending urgent reforms to procurement processes, compliance systems, and governance structures.

Mr Smith added that addressing data privacy gaps was critical to protecting Nigeria’s digital economy and restoring trust in its institutions.

(NAN)