Nigeria is intensifying efforts to strengthen its national software infrastructure and digital governance framework as part of a broader strategy to secure data sovereignty and build local technological capacity.
Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this during an engagement with Ericsson at the GITEX Africa 2026 in Morocco.
Inuwa said the country’s digital strategy is focused on safeguarding national interests and achieving long-term technological independence, rather than aligning with global geopolitical rivalries.
He explained that Nigeria is developing high-standard regulatory policies aimed at improving digital integration while ensuring that critical infrastructure remains under domestic control.
According to him, the approach is not designed to exclude global technology providers but to promote balanced collaboration that enables local value creation.
“We are not saying we are banning hyperscalers from coming. We want them to come, work with local partners, create value in Africa, and let us capture that value here,” he said.
Inuwa noted that Nigeria’s policy direction mirrors global trends, citing frameworks such as the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act and Data Governance Act as examples of regions asserting control over their digital ecosystems.
He added that Nigeria has already classified digital infrastructure as critical national infrastructure through executive orders, although building a fully sovereign system will require sustained effort.
A key objective, he said, is to ensure that data generated within the country is protected and that local talent contributes to the development of digital intelligence and innovation.
Inuwa also highlighted the need to avoid historical patterns where Africa contributes raw materials and data without benefiting from value-added industries, stressing that the current digital transformation must prioritise local ownership and economic participation.
Discussions are also ongoing around data ownership, particularly in emerging technologies where control of machine-generated data is expected to play a significant role in future regulation.
On the industry side, Ericsson reaffirmed its long-standing presence in Nigeria’s telecom sector. The company’s Director for Government and Policy Advocacy in Africa, Amos Haddebe, said the firm has supported the country’s evolution from 2G to 5G networks over more than five decades.
He noted that Ericsson continues to collaborate with operators such as MTN Group to advance Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Haddebe outlined key elements of a memorandum of understanding signed with the Nigerian government in October 2024, including the establishment of a joint innovation hub, a national hackathon, digital skills development initiatives and knowledge exchange programmes.
He added that the national hackathon, launched under the supervision of the Vice President, is already underway and will be integrated into broader innovation efforts.
Haddebe also raised concerns about increasing competition in Africa’s telecommunications sector, urging governments to treat ICT infrastructure as a matter of national security and to adopt a diversified vendor strategy to enhance resilience.
The discussions reflect Nigeria’s growing focus on digital sovereignty, strategic partnerships and the development of a secure and competitive digital economy.
