NATIONAL DIGITAL ECONOMY POLICY AND STRATEGY

A Strategy that harnesses digital technologies to drive Nigeria's economic diversification and innovation. It targets government agencies, businesses, and citizens to expand digital infrastructure and literacy. This aims to reduce oil dependence and foster social development.

What Is This Policy?

The NDEPS is Nigeria’s national framework for harnessing digital technologies to drive economic diversification, innovation, and social development. It sets out a roadmap for building a sustainable digital economy by 2030.

Who Does It Target?

At the governmental level, it targets ministries, departments, and agencies that must digitize their services and align with the national digital agenda.

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

The overarching objective of NDEPS is to reposition Nigeria’s economy away from dependence on oil and gas by harnessing digital technologies. It aims to expand broadband penetration, promote digital literacy, and strengthen indigenous content development.

Key Features

Eight Strategic Pillars: Developmental regulation, digital literacy, solid infrastructure, service infrastructure, digital services, soft infrastructure, digital society, and indigenous content. Broadband Expansion: Target of 70% penetration by 2025. Digital Skills Training: 5 million Nigerians to be trained in digital skills. E-Government: Full digitization of government services. Local Content: Promotion of Nigerian ICT products and services.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Midway implementation (2020–2025 progress review). Coverage: applies nationwide Beneficiaries to Date: Millions of Nigerians trained in digital literacy; broadband penetration reached ~50% by 2025. Funding: Federal Government budget allocations.

How to Access

Official text available on: • NITDA Website: https://nitda.gov.ng • PolicyVault Africa: policyvault.africa • Digital Watch Observatory: dig.watch.com

Important Terms

Term 1-Broadband Penetration: Percentage of Nigerians with access to high-speed internet. Term 2- Digital Literacy: Ability of citizens to use digital tools effectively.

Official Resources

Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy Website: https://digitaleconomy.gov.ng (digitaleconomy.gov.ng in Bing) Address: Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja NITDA (National Information Technology Development Agency) Website: https://nitda.gov.nn Address: No. 28, Port Harcourt Crescent, Off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Garki, Abuja Email: [email protected] Phone: +234 816 840 1851 Link to document- Link to document

Legal Framework

The National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) operates under the National Information Technology Development Agency Act 2007, the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, and the Nigeria Startup Act 2022. It aligns with the Data Protection Act 2023, the Cybercrimes Act 2015, the Electronic Transactions Act, and the African Union's Digital Transformation Strategy 2020–2030. The ECOWAS Supplementary Act on Electronic Transactions provides the regional framework.