Assessing the Current State of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructures

The report traces Nigeria’s digital journey back to 1999 with the development of the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) and the launch of the National Backbone Infrastructure in 2006, spearheaded by the establishment of Galaxy Backbone Limited. These foundational efforts marked the country’s early commitment to enhancing government operations and service delivery through digital infrastructure.

Structured around the three core pillars of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), digital payments, digital identity, and data exchange, the report outlines Nigeria’s achievements and gaps. Notable progress has been recorded in digital identity and payment systems, particularly following the establishment of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS). Initiatives such as NIN-SIM linkage and the integration of BVN with NIN are steps in the right direction for consolidating identity and payment systems.

However, the report notes that the data exchange infrastructure, the third component of DPI, remains significantly underdeveloped. Despite government-led efforts, Nigeria is yet to establish a robust, interoperable data exchange system that enables seamless public service delivery and real-time data coordination across government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.