NITDA, US Chamber Move to Deepen Nigeria’s Digital Economy ..... Agency seeks $4.5tn local IT investment, pushes sovereign cloud infrastructure

DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE (left), presenting the agency's SRAP to the President, US-Aftica Business Center, Kendra Gaither (right)

"The Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda rested on two key objectives: ensuring that Nigerians had reliable access to essential digital services and enabling them to participate meaningfully in value creation across the digital economy." Inuwa.

The National Information Technology Development Agency has called for stronger partnerships with American technology companies and investors to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation, strengthen local infrastructure and attract investment into the country’s digital economy.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said Nigeria’s digital policies were designed to promote digital self-determination, attract foreign investment and build local capacity without shutting out international technology companies.

Inuwa spoke when he received a delegation of the United States Chamber of Commerce and representatives of major American and international businesses, including Microsoft, Citi Bank, Cavista Holdings, Flutterwave and Tolaram Group, at the agency’s headquarters.

The delegation was led by the President of the US-Africa Business Centre, Kendra Gaither, and included representatives of the American Business Council and the US Embassy.

The meeting focused on opportunities for collaboration in digital transformation, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data governance, workforce development and technology investment.

Inuwa said the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda rested on two key objectives: ensuring that Nigerians had reliable access to essential digital services and enabling them to participate meaningfully in value creation across the digital economy.

“Our policy intent is just about two things. First, to make sure our citizens have basic access, no matter what. What I mean by no matter what means we should have a capacity for digital self-determination,” he said.

The NITDA chief explained that the government’s sovereign cloud initiative was intended to strengthen national control over critical digital infrastructure, improve resilience against disruptions and provide greater flexibility in the adoption of technology solutions.

He stressed that the policy was not designed to exclude foreign technology providers but to encourage them to invest in Nigeria, develop local infrastructure and work with domestic businesses to deliver sustainable digital solutions.

“It’s not about politics. It’s not about locking our doors against anybody, but it’s about inviting you to come and build with us,” Inuwa said.

He noted that Nigeria’s expanding digital market presented significant opportunities for international investors, particularly in domestic data centres, cloud computing and other critical technology infrastructure.

According to him, investments in these areas would stimulate local innovation, create opportunities for Nigerian businesses and strengthen the country’s position as a technology hub for West and Central Africa.

Inuwa disclosed that the Federal Government had invested more than ₦4.5tn in information technology between June 2023 and June 2026, adding that appropriate infrastructure and policy frameworks could ensure that more government technology services were hosted on locally based sovereign cloud platforms.

He maintained that building domestic capacity was essential to enabling Nigeria to derive greater economic value from its digital market rather than relying excessively on infrastructure located outside the country.

The NITDA boss also addressed concerns about data localisation, regulatory compliance and the potential implications for businesses, particularly operators in the financial technology sector.

He said the agency was working with relevant regulators, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, to develop an assurance framework that would clarify technical requirements, facilitate compliance and encourage investment in local digital infrastructure.

Inuwa emphasised that the framework should promote competition among technology providers while allowing government agencies and businesses to select solutions that best meet their operational requirements.

He cited the importance of portability, arguing that organisations should be able to move their services between providers without unnecessary restrictions.

“We need that portability. If Google has better services, I should be able to move my services from Microsoft to Google or AWS,” he said.

He added that flexibility was critical to ensuring that Nigeria’s digital ecosystem remained competitive, innovative and responsive to changing technological needs.

On policy development, Inuwa said NITDA had previously collaborated with major technology companies, local service providers and other stakeholders in developing Nigeria’s cloud-first policy.

He urged members of the delegation to sustain engagement with the agency and identify practical ways to align their investments and technological solutions with the country’s digital priorities.

The Director-General also responded to a proposal by Cavista Holdings on collaboration in digital transformation, workforce development and employment-oriented skills programmes.

He invited the company to formally submit its proposal for consideration by the appropriate NITDA team, signalling the agency’s willingness to explore partnerships capable of translating digital investments into employment and skills-development opportunities.

Earlier, Gaither reaffirmed the American business community’s interest in expanding commercial engagement with Nigeria, identifying digital transformation, regulatory clarity and investment predictability as critical to strengthening bilateral economic relations.

She described Nigeria as a major player in Africa’s information technology and digital economy landscape, noting that the country’s policy direction had significant implications for businesses operating across West Africa and the wider continent.

Gaither said the delegation sought constructive engagement with NITDA to gain a clearer understanding of Nigeria’s evolving digital regulatory environment and identify opportunities to advance shared economic and innovation objectives.

She stressed that a secure, competitive and predictable regulatory environment would benefit Nigerian businesses, American companies and other international investors by providing greater certainty for compliance and long-term investment decisions.

The US business leader also highlighted concerns about overlapping regulatory responsibilities and areas requiring further clarification, particularly in cloud computing, data governance and financial services.

She, however, maintained that the companies represented by the delegation were willing to comply with Nigeria’s regulatory requirements while continuing to expand their operations in the country.

Gaither acknowledged Nigeria’s growing influence in digital policy and trade discussions across Africa, expressing the Chamber’s readiness to draw on international experience and facilitate further engagement between NITDA and its member companies.

She said sustained dialogue between regulators and the private sector would help address uncertainties, strengthen investor confidence and create opportunities for partnerships that support Nigeria’s digital transformation.

The meeting underscores growing efforts by Nigeria and international technology stakeholders to deepen cooperation in digital infrastructure, strengthen regulatory alignment and attract investments capable of expanding the country’s technology ecosystem.

For Nigeria, the challenge will be to translate such engagements into concrete investments, stronger local technological capacity and an enabling regulatory environment that balances national digital interests with the need for innovation, competition and foreign participation.