Nigeria’s transition to a fully digital economy is accelerating as the Federal Government advances plans for an e-governance and digital economy bill aimed at strengthening regulation for emerging technologies and driving innovation across the public sector.
Speaking at the Global Partnership for Human-Centric ICT Standardisation (GIST) Nigeria Introductory Stakeholder Workshop in Abuja, Kashifu Inuwa, director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), who represented Dr. Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said Nigeria has moved beyond policy design and is now implementing its national Artificial Intelligence (AI) roadmap.
He noted that the current phase focuses on developing clear guidelines and regulatory frameworks to ensure AI deployment aligns with ethical standards, accountability, and strong safeguards.
As part of the broader digital transformation agenda, the government is also advancing data classification efforts to ensure the availability of clean, reliable datasets for AI training.
In parallel, it is promoting cloud adoption across public institutions to enhance efficiency, scalability, and service delivery.
Inuwa stressed the importance of a “cloud-first” policy, warning that continued dependence on premise systems could slow large scale digital transformation.
However, he added that cloud integration would be approached cautiously to safeguard Nigeria’s digital sovereignty and protect critical national data.
Progress is also being recorded in the e-governance space, with the development of an interoperability framework and the Nigerian Government Enterprise Architecture.
Additionally, work is ongoing on a data exchange platform to support Government Statistics Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), aimed at improving data sharing and coordination among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The initiative is expected to harmonise public sector digital projects while creating opportunities for private sector participation.
Inuwa stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government, industry, and other stakeholders to build resilient digital infrastructure.
He expressed confidence that the proposed legislation and related initiatives would enhance Nigeria’s standing in digital governance while promoting innovation, transparency, and inclusive growth.
Earlier, Peter Marien, the European Commission’s Team Leader for Digital Governance, and DG INTPA, highlighted the role of international cooperation in shaping global digital standards.
He said the European Union’s digital strategy prioritises partnerships and ecosystem alignment across regions, including Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Marien referenced a recent engagement in Brussels on e-governance, organised with Smart Africa, which included participation from NITDA. He described Nigeria’s involvement in the GIST initiative as a strong signal of its commitment to global digital governance.
He emphasised the EU’s focus on a human-centric digital ecosystem that prioritises inclusivity, privacy, and security, noting that its 27 member states have, over two decades, built a cohesive digital framework centred on citizens.
Marien also identified Nigeria as a strategic player in Africa’s quest for a unified digital market, highlighting its role in advancing cross-border digital integration.
According to him, standards serve as the “invisible backbone” of modern societies, supporting critical systems across sectors.
He said the GIST platform enables alignment of technical standards and fosters knowledge exchange between regions.
