Nigeria aims to become Africa’s digital economy capital by 2023

Nigeria is working hard to become the digital economy capital of Africa by 2023, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, has said.

Pantami disclosed this on Monday at the 2020 International Legislative – Stakeholder Conference on Cybersecurity in Abuja, according to a statement by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

He reiterated the importance of collective efforts by all stakeholders towards enhancing the security of cyberspace for Nigerians, who now depend increasingly on digital tools and platforms to carry out their daily activities.

The minister, who was represented by NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said cybersecurity awareness had become imperative due to the attendant risks emanating from the appreciable migration of several transactions, meetings, lectures and others to online and digital platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, while there are adequate laws, policies and frameworks in the country on cybersecurity, collective efforts at fast-tracking the implementation of their instruments have become more central in view of the pandemic.

He said the instruments included the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria, developed by the ministry.

Pantami said, “Furthermore, Section 106(1(c)) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, states the role of the Nigerian Communications Commission in the protection of consumer information.

“Similarly, the National Information Technology Development Agency Act 2007 Section 6(l) states the role of NITDA in promoting the development of information technology to enhance national security.”

He said in addition to the NDEPS, the ministry had also developed the Nigerian National Broadband Plan, 2020-2025 and its implementation plan, adding that efforts in this direction is in line with the ministry’s solid infrastructure pillar.

The minister said, “While all these ground preparations for a digital future were going on, unexpectedly, the world was struck with COVID-19 pandemic which changed the way we live.

“The impact of the pandemic led to many measures taken by governments the world over to contain the spread of the ravaging virus. Restrictions of movement as part of the measures to abate the spread gave credence to our Digital First Ideology.”

“Our plan is to move all parts of the economy to the digital platform. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the transition to more digitally-enabled lifestyles and ways of working has brought about a ‘new normal’ globally with new opportunities and possibilities being unlocked by digitisation.”

Pantami said in view of the increased migration of services online, the ministry’s various initiatives were helping to enhance digital literacy and skills of Nigerians.

He added, “We are also working to ensure the privacy of their data online, as the Ministry is working hard towards making Nigeria the digital economy capital of Africa by 2023.

“There are several other ongoing initiatives geared towards supporting the promise of President Muhammadu Buhari to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.”