The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged state governments to support the deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a key tool for strengthening governance, improving public service delivery, and accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation.

The call was made on Wednesday at the opening of a two-day technical workshop in Abuja, which began with an engagement session involving the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The session focused on the public review of the Draft DPI Life Events Framework and the Draft Technical Standard for the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX), drawing participation from government, industry, academia, and civil society to align Nigeria’s digital economy efforts with global best practices.

Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), Adeladan Rafiu, emphasized the urgency of adopting DPI as the backbone of national development.

Represented by the Director of e-Governance, Johnson Bareyei, he described DPI — which includes systems for secure identification, trusted data exchange, and digital payments — as a development necessity rather than a luxury.
“For Nigeria, the deployment of DPI is not just a technological aspiration; it is a development imperative. It is the foundation for inclusive growth, lower transaction costs in governance, and improved public service delivery,” Rafiu said, stressing that DPI is critical to building trust between government and citizens and to realizing the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He cited successful examples such as India’s Aadhaar and UPI, Estonia’s X-Road, and Finland’s digital trust frameworks as models that have transformed service delivery, financial inclusion, and governance.

NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Abdullahi, represented by the Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Dr. Wariowei Dimie, underscored the need for collaboration with states, insisting that the DPI framework must be “co-created and co-owned” by subnational governments for smooth implementation.

Similarly, NGF Director-General, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, represented by Chief Program Officer Shina Ayotola, highlighted the NGF’s DPI Readiness Report, which assessed infrastructure gaps and opportunities across Nigeria’s 36 states in areas such as digital identity, payment systems, and data exchange.
He assured that the NGF would continue to support state governments in implementing the framework and harmonizing policies to promote digital inclusivity nationwide.
The workshop continues on Thursday with a wider stakeholders’ and public engagement session to consolidate input and finalize the framework for national adoption.