Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani has detailed the proactive steps taken to fortify
Nigeria's technology infrastructure and enhance the application of technology
in government operations. These measures aim to streamline government
processes, protect national data, and accelerate economic prosperity through
improved digital practices.
Dr. Tijani in
a meticulous post on his LinkedIn social media platform cited his collaboration
with the Minister of Interior, who supervises the National Identity Management
Commission (NIMC). He assured that the Ministry of Interior and NIMC are
diligently addressing the issues at hand. Additionally, the Nigeria Data
Protection Commission (NDPC), a relatively new agency under Dr. Tijani's
supervision, has implemented data compliance mechanisms for all Ministries,
Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and is conducting thorough investigations into
any alleged data breaches.
According to
him upon his appointment, he promptly released a whitepaper in October 2023,
outlining his vision for technology application within the public service. The
whitepaper, serves as a foundational document guiding the ministry's approach
to leveraging existing technology investments to enhance economic prosperity
and government efficiency. This publication he said has been pivotal in shaping
policies and practices to strengthen the use of technology in government while
ensuring robust data protection.
Since the
release of the whitepaper, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation,
and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) has launched several initiatives to bolster
Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure:
The Minister
of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, also revealed that a request
has been submitted for a Presidential declaration to align all MDAs behind the
goal of implementing a data exchange system in Nigeria. By the end of the year,
the initial pilot of this system is expected to be in place, covering at least
five MDAs. This system aims to support Nigerians through critical "life
events," ensuring seamless and secure data handling and exchange.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
