What you should know as Nigeria makes bold steps towards e-governance

The Nigerian government is intensifying its efforts to set up a one-stop digital platform for public services. The plan, spearheaded by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), could transform how citizens access government operations and help the country meet its goal of digitising 75 per cent of public services by 2027.

The plan was made public on Monday by the Director-General of the agency, Kashifu Inuwa when he hosted a delegation from the Ukrainian Embassy in Nigeria. Their discussions centred around sharing lessons learned and identifying areas for collaboration between Nigeria and Ukraine to promote e-governance and streamline service delivery.

‍ Previously on E-Governance in Nigeria

This is not the first time the Nigerian government has tried to establish a unified digital government platform. The country launched the e-Government Masterplan (referred to as ‘the Plan’) in 2019 under the Federal Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy. The plan defines e-government as a socio-technical system consisting of technical (electronic) and social (government), which are interwoven.

The FG also launched the OneGov.net initiative to combine various public services under a single digital umbrella. But despite their promise, these early projects posed significant challenges. Technical limitations, insufficient infrastructure, and the absence of consistent regulatory frameworks slowed progress. Many of these initiatives eventually stalled or failed to gain the momentum needed to effectively serve the public.

However, this renewed commitment which comes after the government announced plans in November 2024 to digitalise all the 774 local government headquarters in Nigeria by 2027, appears sincere. This is as evidenced by extensive research into global best practices, according to Inuwa.

NITDA officials claimed to have carefully examined models from countries such as the United Kingdom and Kenya that have successfully implemented unified digital government service portals. In the United Kingdom, for example, digital transformation initiatives have resulted in integrated platforms that enable citizens to easily access services ranging from tax filing to passport applications.

Similarly, Kenya’s e-government framework has led to a more efficient and user-friendly interface for its public services. Although these models are not completely transferable due to differences in legal, cultural, and technological landscapes, they provide valuable lessons for Nigerian policymakers to apply to local needs.

How the Proposed Digital Portal will Work

The creation of a single digital platform that will serve as a hub for an array of government services is at the core of this new initiative. The NITDA DG claims that by removing bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensuring faster, more effective service delivery, the portal will make it easier for citizens to interact with government institutions.

Users will be able to access everything from license renewals and tax payments to health services and social benefits via a single, easily accessible online portal, dismantling the current compartments of government operations.

However, the central question raised against this lofty plan is: How will the digital portal work? According to Inuwa, the solution will be a hybrid of application programming interfaces (APIs) and dedicated portals.

“Some government agencies may provide their services through well-defined APIs that can then be aggregated into a central platform, while others will be hosted on custom websites that are fully integrated into the portal. This dual approach provides greater flexibility in accommodating the diverse nature of public services and varying levels of digital maturity among government departments,” the DG explained.

Nevertheless, the success of such a portal is dependent on more than just technological integration. Inuwa emphasized the critical need for an enabling regulatory framework, pointing out that previous attempts failed because there was no comprehensive legal framework to support the transition to digital service delivery.

“To avoid a repeat of previous challenges, NITDA is collaborating with lawmakers to draft and enact necessary legislation. This will establish standards for data privacy, cybersecurity, and interoperability across various government agencies. Such laws are critical not only for protecting citizens’ data but also for ensuring that the digital infrastructure is resilient and responsive,” he added.

Also, the recent meeting with the Ukrainian delegation is significant. Ukraine’s Diia application is well-known for its robust digital ecosystem, which consolidates state registers and public services into a single, easily accessible platform. Ambassador Kholostenko emphasized Ukraine’s willingness to assist Nigeria in implementing similar systems. This international collaboration demonstrates that Nigeria is not working in isolation; rather, it is actively seeking to incorporate lessons learned from global leaders in digital governance.

Meanwhile, for this renewed drive to overcome the long-standing challenges, like inadequate funding, bureaucratic resistance to change, and citizens’ digital literacy gaps that hampered previous initiatives, there must be a deliberate effort to address them comprehensively. Furthermore, developing a secure and user-friendly interface for millions of Nigerians is a significant technical challenge. However, the government can deploy both domestic expertise and international partnerships to overcome these obstacles.

Looking ahead, analysts believe that if Nigeria is successful in implementing this one-stop digital portal, the benefits could be transformational. The initiative could result in increased transparency in government operations, less corruption, and faster service delivery, all of which would contribute to higher citizen satisfaction and public trust.

Furthermore, a successful digital transformation could serve as a model for other developing countries facing similar challenges, potentially driving greater adoption of e-governance throughout the region.

In a nutshell, the Federal Government’s plans for a centralized digital portal are part of a larger digital transformation initiative aimed at modernizing public service delivery. Building on previous efforts such as OneGov.net, this initiative is distinguished by renewed commitment, increased research into international best practices, and a clear emphasis on developing a legally binding framework to support digital governance.

While significant challenges remain, Nigeria’s collaboration with Ukraine and the adoption of hybrid technological approaches represent a promising step forward in its quest for a more efficient, transparent, and citizen-friendly government.

See also: How Nnaemeka Ani Designed the Enugu State e-Governance Platform