The Federal Government has announced plans to extend its consultations on the proposed National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill to four additional states this week: Kebbi, Oyo, Anambra, and Sokoto.
This follows successful engagements in 16 states, part of a nationwide effort to gather diverse perspectives and shape a comprehensive legal framework for Nigeria’s evolving digital economy.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, in a statement on Monday, highlighted the importance of the initiative. He stated, “Our engagement on the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill has taken us to 16 states so far, and we will be heading to four more states—Kebbi, Oyo, Anambra, and Sokoto—next week.
“The discussions across the sessions have been quite enthusiastic, and I am thankful for the support of various state governments and stakeholders in this process. We look forward to more input as we work with the National Assembly to deliver a robust bill that supports our efforts to grow our digital economy.”
The consultations, funded by the World Bank, aim to address key areas such as improving data interoperability, enhancing digital services, and expanding private sector access to government data. Once passed, the bill is expected to accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy.
The National Assembly has played a pivotal role in the bill’s development. Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chair of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, and Adedeji Olajide, Chair of the House Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, have been actively collaborating with the Ministry to ensure the process is inclusive and aligned with national goals.
