• Ministry eyes 500% rise in broadband investment
The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is considering enacting the National Digital Economy Law, which is expected to see a drastic reduction in paper-based processes in the country in two years.

According to the ministry, the National Digital Economy Bill will be designed as an ‘omnibus bill’ to provide a legal framework for electronic transactions, technical components of digital signatures and public key infrastructure (PKI), e-government, replacement of paper procedures among others.

The National Digital Economy Bill is part of the agenda the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, contained in the ministry’s draft strategic blueprint for the next four years.

In the 31-page document, titled ‘Accelerating Our Collective Prosperity Through Technical Efficiency,’ Tijani said the Digital Economy Law when passed will provide an enduring framework, enabling Nigeria to rapidly transition to digital platforms and provide impetus for reforms to drive e-commerce, digital service delivery and e-governance.

Tijani, who said that stakeholders’ review and enactment of the bill is expected by the end of 2024, noted that the reform is to see 50 per cent implementation of the Act to gradually replace paper-based processes and methods in Nigeria by the end of 2026.

Should the 2026 target be met, Nigeria would join countries including UAE, Estonia among others, which have gone paperless in their daily activities.

Speaking on the National Broadband Plan, the minister said the plan was developed to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation in line with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

“We will prioritise the review and implementation of the National Broadband Plan with a focus on enabling broadband infrastructure, advancing spectrum management, developing incentive structures to drive funding and investments, and programmes to drive demand.

“Nigeria currently has a broadband penetration rate of approximately 50 per cent (NCC, 2023) which is an improvement from six per cent in 2015. The Ministry is committed to driving key initiatives to support the achievement of the 70 per cent broadband penetration target by 2025, as well as Internet access for the unserved and underserved,” he stated.

As such, he said, the ministry hopes to boost broadband penetration rate to 70 per cent by the end of 2025, deliver data download speed of 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas by the end of 2025.

Tijani said there would be coverage for at least 80 per cent of the population, especially the underserved and unserved populations by the end of 2027 and secure between 300 per cent and 500 per cent increase in broadband investment by the end of 2027.

The minister noted that the strategic Blueprint of the Ministry encompasses five key pillars, which include Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Innovation, entrepreneurship and capital (IEC), and Trade.

According to him, each pillar is integral to the Ministry’s mission and interconnected with others, forming the foundation of the strategy.

“Knowledge is the cornerstone upon which innovation thrives, and is built upon the bedrock of sound policies. Infrastructure provides the essential backbone for a thriving digital economy, while innovation and entrepreneurship drive economic diversification. Trade, the fifth pillar, represents our commitment to global collaboration and partnerships, recognising that innovation knows no border.

“As we embark on this transformative journey, we do so with an unwavering sense of purpose. We understand that the road ahead may be challenging, but it is through these challenges that we find the impetus to evolve and adapt. Together, we will harness the power of technology to elevate Nigeria’s standing on the global stage, create sustainable employment opportunities, and improve the quality of life for all Nigerians,” the minister said.