NATIONAL DIGITAL ECONOMY POLICY AND s

A Policy sets out Nigeria's blueprint for advancing the digital economy via eight pillars, focusing on technology and job creation. It targets technology companies, government bodies, and citizens needing digital skills. This seeks to diversify the economy and improve digital services.

What Is This Policy?

The National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) is Nigeria's ten-year blueprint for transforming the economy through digital technology. Built on eight pillars, it aims to make Nigeria a leading player in the global digital economy, create millions of digital jobs, diversify GDP away from oil, and deliver government services through digital platforms.

Who Does It Target?

Technology companies, startups, fintech operators, and digital service providers Government ministries, departments, and agencies undergoing digital transformation Students, graduates, and workers requiring digital skills for the modern economy Rural and underserved communities requiring digital access and inclusion programmes Foreign investors and development partners seeking entry points into Nigeria's digital economy

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Grow ICT's contribution to GDP from approximately 18% to 25% by 2025 Achieve 70% broadband penetration at minimum 25 Mbps download speed by 2025 Create 5 million direct digital economy jobs and support 100,000 digital startups by 2025 Deliver all public services digitally by 2025 under a digital-by-default government mandate

Key Features

Eight Pillars: Developmental Regulation; Digital Literacy and Skills; Solid Infrastructure; Service Infrastructure; Soft Infrastructure; Digital Services Development; Promotion of Emerging Technologies; Indigenous Content Development and Adoption National Broadband Plan 2020 to 2025: A companion plan setting out fibre deployment, spectrum allocation, and right-of-way reforms to hit the 70% broadband target Digital Skills for All: Targets digital literacy training for 95% of Nigerians of working age, delivered through NITDA's 3MTT (3 Million Technical Talent) programme from 2023 3MTT Programme: President Tinubu's Renewed Hope initiative targeting 3 million trained technical talents in software development, data science, cybersecurity, and AI by 2027 Indigenous Technology Content: Policy mandates 60% local content in government IT procurement and supports Nigerian-built products for domestic and export markets Emerging Technologies: Dedicated investment in AI, blockchain, IoT, cloud computing, and drone technology for public and private sector applications

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active; midpoint review completed 2025; 3MTT programme enrolled over 700,000 technical talents as of early 2025 Implementing Body: Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy; NITDA; NCC; Galaxy Backbone; NIMC Key Progress: Nigeria ranked 100th on ITU's ICT Development Index 2023; 5G launched in 2022; startup ecosystem valued at $3 billion+ Funding: FMCDE capital budget, NITDA development levy, private telecoms investment, and World Bank digital development grants

How to Access

Businesses: Register for local content certification with NITDA; access digital export incentives through NIPC: nipc.gov.ng Individuals: Apply for the 3MTT training programme at 3mtt.nitda.gov.ng for free digital skills training in your state Startups: Access NITDA's incubation programmes, acceleration grants, and the Digital Innovation Lab network: nitda.gov.ng Contact: FMCDE: commdigital.gov.ng | NITDA: nitda.gov.ng | NCC: ncc.gov.ng

Impact & Metrics

Nigeria's tech startups raised over $2.7 billion between 2019 and 2023; Lagos is Africa's third-largest startup hub The ICT sector contributed 18.44% of GDP in Q1 2024, making it one of the largest non-oil contributors to the economy

Official Resources

Website: commdigital.gov.ng | nitda.gov.ng | ncc.gov.ng 3MTT Programme: 3mtt.nitda.gov.ng | Contact: FMCDE, CDEC, Mbora District, Abuja Policy Summary | Source: FMCDE, NITDA, NCC, NDEPS 2020 Document, Young Africa Policy Hub Review 2024, Digital Watch Observatory | February 2026

Legal Framework

The National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 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 National Broadband Plan 2.0, and the African Union's Digital Transformation Strategy 2020–2030. The ITU Broadband Commission targets and ECOWAS Supplementary Act on Electronic Transactions provide the international and regional frameworks.