By Joy Onuorah
Imagine trying to board a moving train without tracks. That’s what building a digital economy without strong technical standards looks like.
Now, what if I told you that Nigeria’s government is finally laying the tracks and you get to help decide where they go?
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has just released the Draft Technical Standards for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and is calling on everyone to share their thoughts before May 8, 2025.
But let’s rewind a bit.
Back on March 4th, 2025, the Federal Government unveiled a bold blueprint, the Digital Public Infrastructure Framework.
Think of it as a master plan to make public services faster, smarter, and more accessible through technology. Not just for show, either.
This framework signaled a new era where private sector innovation meets government systems, with one goal: improving life for everyday Nigerians.
“We’re building a whole-of-government approach,” said a spokesperson from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy. “It’s not just about tech, it’s about impact.”
Fast forward to today, and we’re now at a turning point. The newly released draft standards are the nuts and bolts, the behind-the-scenes rules that will make digital identity systems, payment platforms, and data-sharing tools actually work together.
“These standards ensure we don’t build in silos,” said an NITDA insider. “They’re about connecting the dots so our digital services can talk to each other, stay secure, and serve everyone; urban or rural, tech-savvy or not.”
Let’s be honest, standards don’t sound sexy. But imagine being able to open one app to renew your passport, pay taxes, and access healthcare, without re-entering your data 10 times. That’s what these standards aim to make possible.
So what’s inside this draft? Well, it spells out key principles like:
. Making sure platforms actually talk to each other (hello, interoperability)
. Protecting your private data (without burying it in jargon)
. Designing tech that includes the entire population
. Setting clear performance benchmarks (because nobody likes slow, clunky systems)
. Supporting open-source innovation (yes, startups and devs, this is for you too)
But here’s where it gets interesting: instead of just pushing these standards from the top, NITDA wants everyone, from techies to teachers, business owners to students, to weigh in.
“Public feedback isn’t a formality, it’s fuel,” said Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications & Media Relations at NITDA. “We want this to work for the people, so we need to hear from the people.”
This isn’t just policy, it’s participation because the truth is, if we want a digital system that reflects our realities, our values, and our needs, we have to help shape it. Standards may be technical, but their impact is deeply human.
So, if you’ve ever been frustrated by disjointed digital services or felt left out by tech that wasn’t built with you in mind, this is your moment.
Review the draft. Share your thoughts. Help set the course.
Read the full document and send your feedback to regulations@nitda.gov.ng by May 8, 2025.
