- Tinubu Set to Sign Landmark Digital Economy, E-Governance Bill for Africa
- Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu said the law would provide regulatory clarity for electronic transactions
- Tijani explained that under President Tinubu’s leadership, the digital economy’s contribution to GDP has grown from 16 per cent to 19 per cent
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will this week sign into law a landmark Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill, marking a major milestone in Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, made this known on Monday during a one-day Public Hearing on the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill 2025, organised by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committees on ICT and Cybersecurity.
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The Chairmen of the Joint Committees, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu and Hon. Adedeji Olajide, assured that both legislative chambers would pass the bill for third reading and transmit it to the President this week.
“This bill is being awaited by President Bola Tinubu for assent this week, being one of the catalysts for the actualisation of the projected $1 trillion economy,” Tijani stated.
According to the minister, the expected Act will be the first of its kind on the African continent, a move that positions Nigeria as a pacesetter for digital governance and technological innovation across Africa.
Tijani explained that under President Tinubu’s leadership, the digital economy’s contribution to GDP has grown from 16 per cent to 19 per cent, with a new target of 21 per cent by 2027.
“Our government is committed not to quick fixes, but to deep, structural investment -building foundational digital infrastructure and progressive policies that will open new opportunities nationwide,” he said.
He noted that the government, in partnership with the National Assembly, is deploying 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic network to connect every geopolitical zone, state, and local government area with reliable high-speed internet.
In addition, nearly 4,000 new communication towers are being installed to serve over 20 million unconnected Nigerians, while the bill establishes a national data exchange system to ensure seamless information sharing among ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
It also provides a legal framework for artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, a move Tijani said would “enable Nigeria to leapfrog in competitiveness and productivity across critical sectors.”
Quoting an African proverb, he said, “Wise elders plant trees whose shade they will never sit under,” adding that the Bill is an investment in the digital future of generations yet unborn.
In his remarks, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT, said the law would provide regulatory clarity for electronic transactions and mandate government agencies to digitise their services.
Similarly, Hon. Adedeji Olajide, Chairman of the House Committee on ICT, described the legislation as a catalyst for Nigeria’s full digital transformation.
Stakeholders, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NIGCOMSAT, NIPOST, Galaxy Backbone, and the Office of the Head of Service, all endorsed the bill, describing it as a bold step toward a digitally inclusive and efficient Nigeria.
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