The Nigerian government is making a fresh push to build a robust e-governance system following years of failed attempts marked by inadequate infrastructure and poor connectivity.
According to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the new goal is to digitize at least 75% of government services by 2027.
NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this during a recent meeting with a delegation from the Ukrainian Embassy in Nigeria, stating that the agency is developing a one-stop-shop digital platform to streamline access to government services.
Through this platform, Nigerians will be able to access essential services such as license renewals, international passport applications, tax payments, health services, and social benefits via a single online portal, replacing the current fragmented approach to government operations.
While acknowledging that several countries have successfully implemented e-governance, NITDA has studied models from the United Kingdom and Kenya, which have demonstrated effective unified digital government service portals.
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In the UK, digital transformation efforts have resulted in integrated platforms where citizens can seamlessly access services such as tax filing and passport applications. Similarly, Kenya’s e-government framework has enhanced efficiency and user experience in accessing public services.
“We have researched how the UK, Kenya, and other countries have implemented digital governance, and we believe we can learn from these models to develop a system that works for Nigeria,” Inuwa said.
He emphasized the need for Nigeria to create a legal framework to support the transition, highlighting that some countries provide digital services via APIs, while others exclusively operate through designated government portals.
“If we want to achieve this, we need the necessary legal frameworks in place to ensure a smooth and effective digital transformation,” he added.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, recently announced plans to complete the digitization of all 774 local government headquarters across Nigeria by 2027.
According to him, the initiative, in collaboration with relevant agencies, aims to extend digital public infrastructure to underserved and remote areas, ensuring more Nigerians benefit from e-governance.
A core component of this plan includes providing reliable internet connectivity to local government offices, allowing them to efficiently deliver essential services such as healthcare, education, social welfare, and infrastructure development.
This is not Nigeria’s first attempt at establishing a unified digital government platform. The e-Government Masterplan was launched in 2019 under the Federal Ministry of Communications, alongside the OneGov.net initiative, which aimed to consolidate public services under a single digital platform.
However, these efforts faced setbacks due to technical limitations, insufficient infrastructure, and inconsistent regulatory frameworks.
Reuben Oshomah, Regional Director at Avanti Satellite, identified connectivity as a major challenge for Nigeria’s e-governance ambitions.
Citing Estonia, a country where 90% of the population has internet access, Oshomah compared this to Nigeria’s broadband penetration rate of 44.43% as of December 2024, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
He warned that many Nigerians, particularly in rural areas, may struggle to access digitized government services due to limited connectivity.
Despite these concerns, industry analysts remain optimistic about the proposed national fiber project, which aims to deploy 90,000 kilometers of fiber across Nigeria. This initiative is expected to provide the backbone infrastructure necessary to support the government’s e-governance efforts.
Professor Ibrahim Adepoju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in achieving Nigeria’s e-government agenda. He noted that while significant investments have been made, capacity utilization remains below potential.
“It’s crucial to enhance broadband and ensure our infrastructure remains relevant,” Adepoju said, adding that many Nigerians are unaware of the digital infrastructure already in place.
Hauwa Buba Wakili, head of Digital Skills and Services at the NCC, acknowledged the current limitations but assured that the commission is taking steps to address them.
“We have been focusing on infrastructure development and have implemented a policy to drive indigenous content in the telecom sector. This includes manufacturing, capacity building, and research & development,” she said.
Although Nigeria is looking to replicate elements of the UK and Kenya’s digital governance models, experts suggest that Denmark offers the most comprehensive approach.
In Denmark, e-governance is a collaborative effort across all levels of government, ensuring alignment and shared responsibility.
For Nigeria’s e-governance efforts to succeed, states and local governments will need to actively participate and take ownership of the initiative rather than relying solely on the federal government.
While the renewed push towards e-governance appears promising, only time will tell whether Nigeria can overcome its past challenges and fully integrate digital services for its citizens.