By Juliet Umeh
In a move to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has released the draft Technical Standards for Digital Public Infrastructure, DPI, for public consultation.
The agency is now calling on Nigerians to provide comments and inputs that will help shape the final document.
The draft standards, described as a landmark development, are aimed at creating an inclusive, secure, and interoperable digital infrastructure that supports efficient public service delivery, spurs economic growth, and empowers citizens across the country.
This development follows the Federal Government’s earlier release of the Digital Public Infrastructure Framework on March 4, 2025, through the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy. The framework is designed to revolutionise how public services are delivered by adopting a whole-of-government approach and encouraging private sector involvement in developing digital solutions.
As part of that initiative, the Nigerian Digital Public Infrastructure Centre, Ng-DPIC, was established to coordinate the national DPI agenda. The centre plays a key role in promoting research, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to support DPI development in Nigeria.
According to NITDA, the newly released draft Technical Standards offer a clear, structured guide for building and deploying DPI across sectors. These standards define essential technical requirements for ensuring interoperability, cybersecurity, and efficiency. They also outline integration frameworks for sectoral systems such as digital identity, payments, and data exchange platforms.
The draft emphasises collaboration between public and private sectors to create digital public goods (DPGs) while ensuring robust data protection, secure systems, and inclusive digital access.
The document, informed by international best practices and extensive stakeholder engagement, is aligned with the government’s ambition to leverage technology for national development.
Some of the key goals of the draft standards include:
Enhancing interoperability across digital services and platforms
Securing data and protecting privacy, while complying with global standards
Promoting accessibility for all citizens, including marginalised groups
Establishing performance benchmarks for reliability and scalability
Encouraging governance and compliance, ensuring transparency and accountability
Fostering innovation through the adoption of open-source tools
Standardized testing practices to ensure quality and consistency
NITDA is inviting all stakeholders — from citizens and businesses to academia, civil society, and international partners — to review the draft and share feedback.
The document can be accessed via the website.
The agency assured that all feedback will be reviewed and considered before finalising the standards, which are expected to play a critical role in Nigeria’s journey towards a digitally empowered society.
This initiative marks a major milestone in the country’s digital transformation, with the Federal Government confident that a robust and inclusive DPI framework will unlock new opportunities in the digital economy and foster long-term national development.
