The approval came during a meeting at NITDA headquarters where NiRA’s President, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya led his board members to present the association’s 2026 vision to Kashifu Inuwa, NITDA’s director general.

Following the approval, both organisations expressed the resolve to reinforce their collaborative efforts to ensure smooth, rapid execution of their shared goals of increasing the adoption of the .ng domain across

To actualise the business plan, the DG directed NiRA to work hand-in-hand with NITDA’s e-Governance and Digital Economy Department for effective implementation, daily updates, and project tracking.

“You have my full approval for these initiatives. Let us change our strategy, sync up more closely, and ensure everything we have agreed upon during this presentation is fully implemented by next year,” Inuwa declared.

Highlighting some of NiRA’s impressive achievements over the past year, Akinsanya said 98,285 new registrations, 71,470 renewals, and 1,970 restorations were recorded in 2025, while there are 241,000 active .ng domains.

Beyond the numbers, NiRA also implemented important security upgrades, including the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), for a more secure and resilient internet experience for local users, as well as improvements in registrar support and engagement.

Looking into the future, Akinsanya said NiRA is intensifying action to make .ng and .gov.ng domains the gold standard across the country.

He expressed gratitude for NITDA’s ongoing support, calling for joint awareness campaigns and digital capacity-building to bring more state governments, local councils, and public institutions under the secure official domain.

Also, the NiRA president added that the association is updating its internal systems, introducing automation, and revising its constitution to meet globally acceptable standards to ensure sustainable growth.

“NiRA is looking into deeper stakeholder engagement and moving into areas where we see massive possibilities. We are specifically targeting startups and aligning with tech events across the country. With stronger collaboration, we can drive widespread adoption across every tier of government’’, Akinsanya said.

The four-day meeting, which begins on November 4 in Abuja, is expected to gather over 400 delegates from more than 50 countries, including government officials, academics, and industry leaders.

The International Conference on Theory and Practice of Electronic Governance (ICEGOV), organised by the United Nations University (UNU-EGOV) in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), is being held under the patronage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. 

This year’s theme, “Shaping the Future of Digital Governance through Cooperation, Innovation and Inclusion,” highlights the growing influence of Africa’s largest economy in global technology policy and governance.

ICEGOV has been staged in major cities including Beijing, Athens, Bogota, and Galway. Abuja now joins that list, making it the first city in West Africa, and only the second in Africa, to host the conference since its inception in 2007.

NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described the event as a major endorsement of Nigeria’s leadership in digital transformation.

“This moment affirms Nigeria’s place at the table of digital policy and innovation. Our guiding principle has always been to build digital systems that reflect our context, empower our people, and contribute to global progress. 

“Hosting ICEGOV 2025 allows us to exchange knowledge, celebrate innovation across regions, and work together toward a more inclusive and digitally sovereign future.”

Under Abdullahi’s leadership, NITDA has become central to Nigeria’s digital strategy, driving reforms in public administration, advancing local digital skills, and strengthening international partnerships. 

Earlier this year, the Agency co-hosted GITEX Nigeria, further strengthening the country’s standing as an emerging technology hub. ICEGOV 2025 builds on that, placing Abuja as a platform for dialogue on digital sovereignty, collaboration, and innovation in governance.

The programme will feature keynotes, panel sessions, and technical workshops covering digital inclusion, cybersecurity, data governance, and public-sector innovation. 

Researchers will also present academic papers and participate in a doctoral colloquium, while exhibitions will showcase new solutions shaping digital public services.

Ahead of the main conference, two key side events will take place. The West African Governance Forum (WADGoV), scheduled for 3–4 November, will bring together policymakers from across the region to discuss joint efforts on digital governance and cross-border cooperation. 

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) session will focus on refining the E-Governance White Paper and strengthening indicators that guide digital transformation across the African Union.

With the world’s attention turning to Abuja this week, Nigeria’s part in enhancing Africa’s digital economy is coming into sharper focus, anchored on collaboration, innovation, and inclusion.

This initiative, led by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), seeks to simplify access to public services through a unified digital platform.

Kashifu Inuwa, director-general of NITDA, recently discussed the plan during a meeting with officials from the Ukrainian Embassy in Nigeria. He revealed that the agency is developing an online portal where Nigerians can access various government services, including tax payments, licence renewals, international passport applications, healthcare, and social benefits. 

The goal is to eliminate the fragmented structure that currently hampers efficiency in government operations.

Inuwa explained that Nigeria has been studying successful e-governance models from other nations, particularly the United Kingdom and Kenya. He noted that while these models may not be directly transferable, they offer valuable insights that can be adapted to suit Nigeria’s unique challenges.

“We have been doing research on how the UK, Kenya and other countries have achieved this, so I believe we can learn from you as well to see how we can build our own,” Inuwa stated. 

He emphasised the importance of enacting necessary laws to support the transition, noting that some nations operate through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) while others use government-mandated digital platforms.

Expanding Digital Access to Local Governments

Beyond federal-level digitisation, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has outlined plans to integrate all 774 local government headquarters into the digital framework by 2027. 

This initiative aims to extend digital public infrastructure to underserved areas, ensuring that government services become more accessible nationwide.

An aspect of this plan is improving internet connectivity at the local government level. Reliable internet access is expected to enhance service delivery in key sectors such as healthcare, education, social welfare, and infrastructure development.

Overcoming Past Setbacks

This is not Nigeria’s first attempt at implementing a comprehensive e-governance strategy. The government previously introduced the e-Government Masterplan in 2019 and launched the OneGov.net initiative to unify public services. 

However, these initiatives were challenged with inadequate infrastructure, inconsistent regulatory frameworks, and technical limitations. As a result, progress was slow, and many initiatives failed to gain traction.

Addressing the Connectivity Gap

One of the major obstacles to successful e-governance in Nigeria is poor connectivity. Reuben Oshomah, regional director at Avanti Satellite, pointed out that broadband penetration is uneven, particularly in rural areas. While urban centres benefit from relatively stable internet access, many communities still struggle with limited connectivity.

Oshomah pointed to Estonia as a benchmark, noting that despite having only 30% of Nigeria’s population, the European nation has achieved 90% internet penetration. In contrast, data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that broadband penetration in Nigeria stood at 44.43% as of December 2024.

However, there is hope in the proposed national fibre project, which aims to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across the country. The goal is to improve connectivity and provide the necessary infrastructure for e-governance to thrive.

The Role of Stakeholders

Professor Ibrahim Adepoju, managing director of Galaxy Backbone, stressed that achieving Nigeria’s e-governance goals would require stronger collaboration across public and private sectors. He noted that many government agencies are unaware of existing digital infrastructure and called for better awareness and utilisation of available resources.

“It’s important to improve our broadband and ensure that our infrastructure remains relevant,” Adepoju stated, pointing out that current capacity remains underutilised despite significant investments.

Similarly, Hauwa Buba Wakili, head of Digital Skills and Services at the NCC, outlined efforts to enhance e-governance through indigenous content development, research, and capacity building. “We have been focusing on infrastructure and have developed a policy to drive indigenous content in the telecom sector. We’re looking at manufacturing, capacity building, and R&D,” she explained.

Nigeria needs to launch functional, accessible, and sustainable products in the long run. With the right policies, infrastructure, and stakeholder commitment, the country may finally bridge the gap between aspiration and execution in its e-governance journey.

While the federal government is targeting this initiative, collaboration must be ensured across all levels of government.

On the other hand, e-governance is enabling the public and private sectors to work together to revolutionize service delivery through a digital revolution.

In more recent times, the way the government interacts with citizens, businesses, and other stakeholders is changing as a result of the shift toward e-governance.

This article explores the advantages of e-governance, and highlight successful implementations that exemplify the transformative power of technology in governance.

E-governance involves the use of digital technologies to deliver government services and engage with citizens.

The use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in government operations, promises to change how citizens interact with the government.

It has numerous advantages, including increased accountability, transparency, and efficiency. E-governance has the potential to significantly enhance the government’s capacity to serve its citizens by streamlining service delivery, reducing paperwork, and automating processes.

Below are some benefits of E-Governance

Increased Efficiency: Digitizing government services streamline administrative processes, reducing the time and effort required to access services.

For instance, quicker approvals and reimbursements are made possible by the digital processing of tax returns via the GSP, which is advantageous to both the government and taxpayers.

Enhanced Transparency: By making information easily accessible and lowering the likelihood of fraudulent acts, e-governance projects increase transparency. The TSA, for example, reduces the possibility of financial impropriety by making sure that all government revenues are recorded.

Public Engagement: Digital channels let citizens and the government communicate more effectively.

A more participatory governance model is promoted by allowing individuals to report problems, offer comments, and participate in decision-making using mobile applications and web portals.

Lastly, e-governance has the potential to combat corruption by increasing transparency. Online systems can track the movement of funds and resources, making it difficult for corrupt officials to operate.

A typical example of an efficient e-government platform is the e-passport. This has simplified the passport application and renewal process.

Applicants can now complete their applications online, schedule appointments, and track the status of their passports, making the process more transparent and efficient.

The path to achieving a government that is completely digitized is not without its difficulties. Cybersecurity, infrastructure, and digital literacy are all issues that need to be addressed. However, there are a lot of potential benefits.

Nigeria has the potential to establish a government that is more responsive, effective, and focused on its citizens by investing in e-governance.

Furthermore, as Nigeria continues to embrace e-governance, it is crucial to ensure that these digital solutions are accessible to all citizens, bridging the digital divide and creating a more inclusive society.

About the Author

Kenneth is a seasoned Azure Cloud Engineer. With over six years of experience in cloud computing, he has a passion for leveraging technology to drive impactful change. Kenneth is a prominent thought leader in the tech and business community within and outside Nigeria.               

His expertise and insights in cloud computing makes him a valuable resource. He is also the CEO of Nfonex Systems, a company that specializes in cloud IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS solutions.