Muhammed Rudman, CEO of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), has called for accountability among African countries in their policy implementation, highlighting the issue of failed and ineffective records.
He made this call at The Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 4.0) which took place yesterday, November 7, 2024, at Oriental Hotel, Lekki Road, Lagos.
Centred around the theme: “Leapfrogging Digital Transformation for Future of Africa’s Economy,” the forum convened industry leaders, policymakers, and technology advocates to discuss Africa’s digital growth.
Citing Nigeria as an example, Rudman stressed the disparity between the abundant digital policies and their lack of effective action, reflecting on former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s comment that “Nigeria is the graveyard for excellent policies.”
He added that the lack of policy execution is particularly problematic in sectors essential to economic growth and national inclusivity.
While noting the strides made in other countries, Rudman pointed to India as an example, where significant investments have reached underserved areas.
In Nigeria, he noted, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, led by the Minister, has invested approximately $2 billion into initiatives that extend over 90,000 kilometres of broadband infrastructure into rural areas to connect the unserved population.
Added to this, Rudman mentioned the Central Bank of Nigeria’s financial inclusion initiatives and the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) aimed at ensuring access to digital and financial services across the country.
Despite these goal-driven projects, Rudman emphasised the gap between policy and practice. He said, “We have excellent policies to achieve that, but when it comes to implementing those policies, we are really, really lagging behind, and it’s the responsibility of the government to ensure that those policies are actually achieved.”
He stressed the importance of government accountability in bridging this divide, calling it “a million-dollar question on how government can be achieving policies they have done.”
Rudman proposed implementing tougher penalties for non-performance as a potential solution, saying, “Unless there is going to be a high penalty for not delivering… then yes, maybe it can happen.” He argued that without tangible consequences, policies may continue to stagnate, hindering Nigeria’s potential in the digital economy.
Rudman’s address at AfriTECH 4.0 encompassed the fact that Nigeria has strong policies aimed at digital transformation, but it remains essential to ensure these plans are implemented with diligence and accountability.
Comments 1