The Federal Government held a consultation with stakeholders in Lagos on Thursday, to discuss the proposed Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, part of a nationwide effort to establish a comprehensive legal framework for Nigeria’s digital economy.
The meeting follows earlier sessions across various states, with the government aiming to gather insights from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, noted the ongoing consultations, stating, “After starting with a few states in the last couple of weeks, we were in Lagos today and will be in Kano, Cross River, Kaduna, Ogun, and Abia next week.”
At the event, Tijani emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement to ensure the bill is inclusive and impactful.
“With no current overarching law to back the digital economy in Nigeria, we are keen to collectively craft legislation that can help accelerate the growth of the sector,” he said.
The proposed legislation aims to improve data interoperability, facilitate private sector access to government data, and enhance digital services for Nigerians.
According to Tijani, this framework would empower government agencies to deliver better services while creating opportunities for the private sector.
“If we can collectively craft a piece of legislation that can help us accelerate the growth of this sector, you can imagine where we will be.
So much is possible,” he added.
The consultation process, funded by the World Bank, seeks to incorporate feedback from key representatives in each state to create a well-rounded perspective on the digital economy’s diverse needs.
Tijani highlighted the National Assembly’s support, acknowledging the involvement of Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chair of the Senate Committee on ICT & Cybersecurity, and Adedeji Olajide, Chair of the House Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, who have been actively working with the Ministry to ensure an inclusive process.
