The Federal Government has projected that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could receive a significant boost from the digital economy, with contributions expected to rise to 21 percent by 2030 if the proposed National Digital and E-Governance Bill becomes law.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, made the announcement on Thursday in Abuja during a stakeholder validation workshop on the bill. He was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Adeladan.

Dr. Tijani described the legislation as a landmark step in shaping a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready digital economy for the country. “This gathering provides a unique opportunity to deliberate on the provisions of the bill, validate its framework, and agree on a shared path towards its successful implementation,” he said.

The minister emphasized that the bill would legally anchor Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, providing a robust legal and regulatory framework for digital governance, improving service delivery, and building public trust in e-governance, digital trade, and secure transactions. He noted that the digital economy had already contributed significantly to growth, adding N7 trillion to real GDP in the first quarter of 2025, representing 14.19 percent of total GDP. The sector currently contributes between 16 and 18 percent of GDP, with strategies in place to raise this to 21 percent by 2030.

Dr. Tijani commended the National Assembly, particularly Senator Shuaib Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, and Stanley Adedeji, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Technology, for their commitment to advancing the bill. He highlighted the unprecedented level of stakeholder engagement in drafting the legislation, which included consultations across all 36 states of the federation.

“Over the past months, extensive nationwide consultations have been conducted to ensure that the perspectives of sub-national governments, ecosystem actors, civil society, and private sector stakeholders are embedded in this bill. It is the first time in our history that a legislative instrument of this nature has undergone such broad, inclusive consultation,” he said, acknowledging support from partners including the Nigerian Digital Identification for Development project.

According to Dr. Tijani, the bill seeks to promote interoperability across ministries, departments, and agencies; strengthen digital identity and secure data exchange; enhance governance processes; and foster innovation in both the public and private sectors. He encouraged stakeholders to provide constructive input to ensure the legislation reflects the aspirations of Nigerians.

Supporting the minister’s position, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Mr. Kashifu Abdullahi, emphasized that inclusivity was central to the proposed bill. He said contributions from academia, industry, government, the innovation ecosystem, and venture capitalists had informed the drafting process, ensuring no group or region was left behind.

Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner and CEO of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, highlighted the importance of the country’s digital ecosystem and the role of the bill in driving national progress. He stressed that the legislation must align with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to safeguard citizens’ data privacy.

The National Digital and E-Governance Bill also aims to transition government records from paper-based systems to electronic platforms, accelerate full digital transformation across sectors, improve public service efficiency, and advance national digital development, covering emerging technologies, digital infrastructure, literacy, and innovation support.