Nigeria’s digital and technology stakeholders have endorsed the proposed National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, hailing it as a major step toward a robust legal framework for digital governance, innovation, and socio-economic growth.
Speaking at a Public Hearing convened by the Joint Senate and House Committees on ICT, Cybersecurity, Digital and Information Technology, stakeholders emphasized the need to clearly define institutional roles to prevent overlaps and regulatory conflicts.
Barrister Yunus AbdulSalam (SAN), Legal Adviser for the Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting (NADIR), praised the Bill for modernizing Nigeria’s digital governance and regulating emerging technologies. He, however, cautioned that some provisions replicate functions already assigned to agencies like NITDA, NCC, and NDPC, warning that duplication could trigger disputes, increase compliance costs, and deter private investment. He recommended consolidating the Bill’s innovations into existing laws to ensure regulatory clarity.
Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, described the Bill as crucial for enhancing Nigeria’s digital competitiveness, transparency, and ease of doing business, noting that the digital economy currently contributes about 20 percent of GDP. He said its passage could unlock jobs, innovation, and revenue growth.
House Committee Chairman, Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide, said the engagement reflects Nigeria’s commitment to a transparent, innovation-driven governance structure, emphasizing collaboration among lawmakers, regulators, and industry players as key to the country’s digital transformation journey.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, praised the National Assembly’s efforts and assured stakeholders that concerns would be addressed. He highlighted provisions on Artificial Intelligence (AI), noting its potential to boost productivity and global competitiveness.
NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, stressed the importance of a modern legal framework to leverage global technological shifts, citing AI applications in agriculture for real-time insights on weather, best practices, and input quality as a way to strengthen food security.
Other stakeholders at the hearing included NCC, NDPC, Galaxy Backbone, NIGCOMSAT, NCS, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, and ALTON.
Deputy Senate Leader, Sen. Oyelola Ashiru, representing Senate President Godswill Akpabio, described the Bill as a bold step to align Nigeria’s governance and economy with global digital realities.
If passed, the Bill is expected to transform Nigeria’s digital economy, akin to the impact of the telecommunications liberalization policy of 2001.