National Digital Economy Bill set to provide legal backbone for e-commerce, electronic transactions, and digital governance
The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious plan to expand Nigeria’s information and communications technology (ICT) and digital economy sector to contribute a quarter of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the year 2030.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who was represented by Rafiu Adeladan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement on the National Digital Economy Bill in Abuja. He said the government is determined to harness the full potential of the sector to create jobs, boost financial inclusion, and accelerate national development.
Tijani explained that the ICT and digital economy sector currently contributes between 16 and 18 percent to GDP, with recent data showing a ₦7 billion addition to Nigeria’s real GDP in the first quarter of 2025. This, he noted, represented about 14 percent of the nation’s total GDP during the review period. He stressed that the government has set out clear strategies to raise this to 25 percent by 2030.
According to him, the National Digital and E-Government Bill, which is currently before the National Assembly, will serve as a critical foundation for Nigeria’s digital transformation journey. The bill, he added, seeks to establish a robust legal and regulatory framework to guide the country’s digital economy and e-governance.
Highlighting the gaps in Nigeria’s current system, the minister observed that the country lacks a comprehensive and effective legal framework for electronic transactions and e-commerce. The proposed legislation, he said, would address this by introducing key provisions on authentication, revocation, auditing, and digital payments. This, he emphasized, would also ensure government revenues are properly tracked and collected through digital platforms.
Tijani described the engagement as an important opportunity for stakeholders to deliberate on the content of the bill and its potential impact on the economy. He pointed out that participants included representatives from government institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, development partners, the legal community, and the general public. “Your perspectives and contributions are critical, as they will help shape the final content of the bill and ensure it reflects the aspirations of all Nigerians,” he said.
The minister also likened data in the digital economy ecosystem to “the new oil,” underscoring its role in driving prosperity in the years ahead.
Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, echoed this optimism, stressing that the government is making concerted efforts to ensure Nigeria fully benefits from digital opportunities. He noted that the National Digital Economy Bill is not only designed
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