The United Kingdom has rolled out a new package of digital economy initiatives for Nigeria, anchored on a state-level reform project designed to remove regulatory bottlenecks and attract fresh investment into broadband, digital services and emerging technologies.

The core of the expanded partnership, delivered under the UK’s Digital Access Programme, is the State-level Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Reforms Enabling Digital Transformation (SPRIRET) initiative, which will run in Abia, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu and Niger states.

The project was announced during the June visit of the UK Minister for Africa and International Development, Baroness Chapman, and is expected to be extended to additional states in subsequent phases.

SPRIRET will be implemented in partnership with the Initiative for Digital Inclusion to strengthen state-level policies, governance structures, digital infrastructure and human capacity, with the aim of improving service delivery, boosting transparency and widening citizen participation in the digital economy. Its designers have positioned it as a scalable model that could be replicated nationwide, allowing states to unlock new economic opportunities through inclusive digital transformation.

British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, said the UK was committed to supporting practical reforms that would open up investment and strengthen institutions across Nigeria’s digital space.

“The UK is proud to partner with Nigeria to drive an inclusive and innovative digital economy. Through initiatives like SPRIRET, we are supporting practical reforms that will unlock investment, strengthen institutions, and expand digital access, creating opportunities for businesses and citizens alike,” Baxter said, describing the partnership as a reflection of shared ambitions to harness technology for sustainable growth.

Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, welcomed the initiative, noting that it addressed long-standing gaps in policy, regulatory and institutional reform that were foundational to sustaining digital investment in the state.

“We wish to express our sincere appreciation to the British Deputy High Commission and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for the sustained interest in Enugu State’s development agenda and for the initiative in co-designing the SPRIRET project in response to the state’s priorities,” Onyia said, adding that the state government looked forward to a partnership that would advance its vision of an inclusive digital economy.

Beyond SPRIRET, the UK is backing targeted interventions to deepen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. A Technical Assistance Facility will work to improve the performance of the Universal Service Provision Fund, strengthening its systems and institutional capacity to deliver more inclusive digital access outcomes.

The UK is also supporting the Safeguarding Trust, Digital Rights, Inclusion and Data Ethics (STRIDE Nigeria) Project, which is aimed at promoting responsible data governance. The project will raise awareness of citizens’ rights under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, strengthen institutional compliance, and build a pipeline of skilled data professionals. It will run a nationwide “Own Your Data” campaign alongside targeted fellowships to help citizens and businesses engage more safely and confidently in the digital economy.

The initiatives underline the UK’s continued commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, with officials framing the interventions as a combined push to unlock growth, strengthen institutions and empower citizens across the digital economy.