Nigeria advocates enhanced digital sovereignty, software infrastructure

*Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, at a meeting with Ericsson at GITEX Africa, in Morocco, affirms that Nigeria’s digital strategy is focused on safeguarding national interests and securing long-term technological independence, rather than aligning with global rivalries

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As the West African country moves to secure data sovereignty, and build local technological capacity, Nigeria is intensifying efforts at strengthening its national software infrastructure and digital governance framework in the ecosystem.

ConsumerConnect reports the country’s initiative is focused on developing high-standard regulatory policies that will enhance digital integration while ensuring that critical national systems remain under domestic control.

Ericsson restates commitment to improved Nigerian telecoms sector, digital infrastructure

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) disclosed discussion on the initiative again, was on the front burner during a recent engagement with the Management of Ericsson at the GITEX Africa, held in Morocco.

Inuwa: Nigeria securing long-term technological independence

Speaking at the forum, the agency stated Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, said Nigeria’s digital strategy remains focused on safeguarding national interests and securing long-term technological independence, rather than aligning with global rivalries.

Inuwa said: “We are building our national software infrastructure. We are coming up with very high-standard regulatory policies that will help us build capacity for digital software integration.

“For me, it is not about politics. It is not about geo-tech politics. It is not about banning China.

“It is about how we, as a country, have control and are able to shape our digital future.”

The NITDA Chief Executive also stressed that Nigeria is not pursuing an exclusionary approach towards global technology partners, but rather seeking balanced collaboration that ensures value creation within the country.

Inuwa explained: “We are not saying we are banning hyperscalers from coming.

“We want them to come, work with local partners, create value in Africa, and let us capture that value here.”

Insight into global digital regulatory trends

The Director-General of the Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency as well drew parallels with global regulatory trends.

He noted frameworks, such as the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act, and Data Governance Act as examples of regions asserting digital sovereignty through structured policy environments.

Nigeria’s approach aligns with the global shift towards treating digital infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), a move already supported by existing executive orders in the country.

Inuwa stated: “We already have an executive order that makes all digital infrastructure a national critical infrastructure.

“But building a fully sovereign digital system takes time. Even the EU did not achieve it overnight.”

Nigeria is focused on creating value, not just receiving techs, asserts Inuwa

Inuwa especially emphasised that a key priority of the policy direction is to ensure that data generated within Nigeria remains protected, and that intellectual capacity and digital intelligence are developed locally rather than exported.

The Director-General said: “We want to keep the intelligence in our country. “We want to be part of creating value, not just receiving technology.”

He also highlighted concerns about historical imbalances in global industrial development.

According to him, Africa has often contributed raw materials, labour, and data without fully benefiting from value-added industries.

Inuwa asserted: “We don’t want a repeat of previous industrial revolutions where Africa was left behind.

“This time, it is about value creation and building our own digital offerings.”

On expanded national digital transformation agenda

Besides, the agency disclosed discussions are ongoing around data ownership frameworks, particularly in emerging technologies and industrial systems, where questions of who controls machine-generated data remain central to future regulation.

It stated the Nigerian Government is expected to unveil clearer policy direction in the coming months as part of its broader national digital transformation agenda.

Ericsson’s commitment to Nigerian telecoms sector

In regard to the industry side, NITDA said Ericsson reaffirmed its long-standing involvement in the Nigerian telecoms sector.

It noted Amos Haddebe, Director for Government and Policy Advocacy in Africa at Ericsson, said the company had operated in Nigeria for over five decades, supporting the country’s telecommunications evolution from 2G to current 5G.

Inuwa also affirmed that Ericsson has continued to collaborate closely with network operators, such as MTN Group, as part of its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

Haddebe also outlined four key pillars of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Nigerian Government October 2024, including the establishment of a joint innovation hub, a national hackathon, digital skills development programmes, and exchange of best practices.

The Director-General of the agency further disclosed that the ongoing national hackathon, launched under the supervision of Vice President Kashim Shettima, is underway, and would be integrated with broader innovation initiatives.

As regards broader industry concerns, Haddebe was said to have warned against rising competition in Africa’s telecoms space.

The Ericsson chief also urged governments to treat Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure as a matter of national security.

He, therefore, advocated a diversified vendor ecosystem to ensure resilience and safeguard critical systems.

NITDA said the discussions between the two organisations equally highlighted Nigeria’s increasing focus on digital sovereignty, strategic partnerships, and the development of a secure and competitive digital economy.

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