Impact of data protection and privacy on e-government adoption in Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the impact of data protection and privacy on e-government adoption in developing countries. Data were gathered using focus groups and interviews in an empirical setting to understand better, the impact of data protection and privacy on adopting e-government in Nigeria. Interviews were conducted with senior government employees, including directors, higher technical officers, and programme analysts. Qualitative method helped to emphasise the context of e-government adoption and subjective experiences through semi-structure interviews that enabled an in-depth knowledge of e-government adoption in Nigeria. The flexibility of grounded theory provided data- driven insights making it easy to code the collected data from participants (see Chapter 4, Section 4.7.4). Grounded theory method was used to analyse the research data. The study established the existence of data protection and privacy concerns in Nigeria by analysing current data protection and privacy practises on e-government services and by identifying specific Nigerian features impacting the adoption. The study concluded that data protection and privacy are essential for Nigeria to successfully adopt e-government, as e-government demands data protection and privacy regulations and active e-government public awareness. Other major challenges were identified, including needing more technical skills and a technological gap. Although some Nigerians find e-government cost-effective and convenient, others prefer the conventional method of delivering government services because they are more concerned with their privacy and personal information when using e-government services. They feel uncomfortable using e-government applications, as they know they can always count on getting physical help from someone in the ministry. With Hofstede dimension theory, it was established that cultural factor is part of the causes of reluctance to e-government adoption as traditional or manual methods of service delivery are heavily preferred in many communities. However, this can be mitigated by promoting cultural shift through educational initiatives and awareness to establish the benefits of e-government services. The research concludes with a framework as a recommendation for policymakers in e-government and data protection regulatory enforcement organisations. The framework is directed towards addressing issues from the research findings concerning data protection and privacy within the Nigerian e-government adoption. It encompass the enforcement of existing data protection regulations, increase in public education and awareness, enhancing government websites, provision of targeted training for citizens and government employees. Future researchers will have a great chance to learn more and expand their scope of study into the use of e-government in developing countries.