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Nigeria Digital Economy Bill Seeks Public Input
– The Nigerian Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy has announced a comprehensive plan to gather public feedback on the updated National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill.
Following a media engagement on Tuesday, the Ministry revealed the draft legislation’s content will be available by July 23, 2024. Widespread stakeholder consultations across Nigeria are also planned to ensure the bill effectively addresses the needs of various groups, including public service providers, regulators, innovators, and service providers.
The Ministry will collaborate with Tech Hubs, the Nigerian Computer Society, and other relevant organisations to facilitate nationwide engagement and gather valuable input. Technical workshops will be held to finalise the draft and incorporate expert perspectives on the bill’s content.
Speaking at the media event, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Dr. Bosun Tijani highlighted the transformative potential of Nigeria’s digital economy, which is projected to generate N18.3 billion by 2026. Dr Tijani cited the success of Nigerian unicorn companies like Flutterwave, Jumia, Andela, and Interswitch as evidence of the sector’s strength and its ability to propel the nation’s economic growth.
“Those following Nigeria’s economic trajectory are likely aware that the ICT sector contributes significantly to GDP, ranging from 13% to 18%,” Dr Tijani noted. “In the fourth quarter of 2023 alone, the sector contributed an impressive16.6% of GDP. The digital economy generated approximately N5.49 billion in revenue in 2019, and this figure is projected to reach N18.3 billion by 2026.”
