By Dickson Pat
Federal government has projected that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product ,GDP, could get a major lift from the digital economy, with contributions expected to climb to 21% by 2030 if the proposed National Digital and E-Governance Bill is passed into law.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this in Abuja during a stakeholder validation workshop on the bill.
He was represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Rafiu Adeladan.
Describing the proposed legislation as a turning point for Nigeria’s digital transformation, Tijani said, “Today marks a defining moment in our collective efforts to shape a resilient, inclusive, and future-proof digital economy for Nigeria.
“This gathering provides us with 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 explained that the bill would provide a strong legal and regulatory foundation for digital governance, improve service delivery, and strengthen public confidence in e-governance, digital trade and secure transactions.
According to him, the sector had already shown a remarkable impact, contributing N7tn to real GDP in the first quarter of 2025, representing 14.19% of total GDP.
The sector currently accounts for between 16 and 18%, but strategies are in place to raise this to 21% by 2030.
“These figures demonstrate both the current impact and the vast potential of a unified, digitally empowered economy driven by robust legislation”, Tijani added.
He praised the National Assembly for its commitment to the bill, singling out Senator Shuaib Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, and Stanley Adedeji, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Technology.
Tijani also highlighted the extensive stakeholder consultations undertaken across all 36 states, facilitated by the law firm of Duale, Ovia & Alex-Adedipe, noting that it was the first time such a bill had gone through such a broad and inclusive process.
He acknowledged the support of partners like the Nigerian Digital Identification for Development project.
The bill, he said, seeks to promote interoperability among ministries, departments and agencies; strengthen digital identity and secure data exchange; improve governance processes; and foster innovation in both the public and private sectors.
Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency ,NITDA, Mr Kashifu Abdullahi, said inclusivity was central to the proposed legislation, stressing that the nationwide consultations were deliberate to ensure no group or region was excluded.
He noted that contributions came from academia, government, industry, the innovation ecosystem, and venture capitalists.
Abdullahi added that accelerating digitisation would naturally enhance inclusion, financial access, and service delivery.
Similarly, the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Dr Vincent Olatunji, underscored the importance of the bill in safeguarding Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
He urged participants at the workshop to strengthen the provisions of the bill and emphasised the need for alignment with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to reinforce citizens’ data privacy.
The bill covers key areas such as emerging technologies, digital infrastructure, and digital literacy, while supporting innovation.
One of its major provisions is the transition of government records from paper to electronic platforms, a shift expected to drive efficiency in public service delivery and accelerate Nigeria’s full digital transformation.
