Pantami: We are working to make Nigeria the digital economy capital of Africa by 2023

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has said that his ministry is working hard to make Nigeria the digital economy capital of Africa by the year 2023.

Pantami made the revelation today in his keynote address at the 2020 International Legislative – Stakeholder Conference on Cybersecurity at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.

Represented by the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Minister said, the conference is timely, having been slated for the month of October, dedicated globally to raising awareness on online safety and cybersecurity.

He said the ministry was in the process of implementing the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria when the pandemic struck and changed the way we live, with  several transactions, meetings, lectures and other forms of interaction moving online and to digital platforms.

“We are also working to ensure the privacy of their data online, as the Ministry is working hard towards making Nigeria the digital economy capital of Africa by 2023”, he said, stressing that there are several other ongoing initiatives geared towards supporting the promise of President Muhammadu Buhari to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.

“Our plan is to move all parts of the economy to the digital platform.  The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the transition to more digitally-enabled lifestyles and ways of working, has brought about a ‘new normal’ globally with new opportunities and possibilities being unlocked by digitization,” he said.

He further stated that in view of the increased migration of services online, the Ministry’s various initiatives are helping to enhance digital literacy and skills of Nigerians.  He canvassed for collective efforts by stakeholders in the quest to enhance security of the cyberspace for Nigerians, who now depend increasingly on digital tools and platforms to carry out their daily activities.

According to Pantami, “Cybersecurity awareness has become imperative due to the attendant risks that emanate from the appreciable migration of several transactions, meetings, lectures and other forms of interaction to online and digital platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He further noted that while there are adequate laws, policies and frameworks in the country on cybersecurity, collective efforts at fast-tracking the implementation of the instruments have become more central in view of the pandemic.

One of such instruments, he said, is the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria, developed by the Ministry, with eight pillars, which include developmental regulation, digital literacy & skills, solid infrastructure, service infrastructure, digital services development & promotion, soft infrastructure, digital society and emerging technologies, as well as indigenous content development and  adoption.

According to Pantami, the sixth pillar of NDEPS aligns with the theme of the conference, as it essentially aims at ensuring that Nigerians are secure online.

“Furthermore, Section 106(1(c)) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, states the role of the Nigerian Communications Commission in the protection of consumer information. Similarly, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Act 2007 Section 6(l) states the role of NITDA in promoting the development of information technology to enhance national security,” he said.

He also stated that the Nigeria National Cybersecurity Framework also prescribes guidance for public and private sector organisations for instituting measures for enshrining cybersecurity culture and enthrone cyber-resiliency in Nigeria.

Speaking further, Pantami said in addition to the NDEPS, the Ministry has also developed the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP), 2020-2025 and its implementation plan, adding that efforts in this direction is in line with the Ministry’s Solid Infrastructure pillar.

“While all these ground preparations for a digital future were going on, unexpectedly, the world was struck with COVID-19 pandemic which changed the way we live. The impact of the pandemic led to many measures taken by governments the world over to contain the spread of the ravaging virus. Restrictions of movement as part of the measures to abate the spread gave credence to our Digital First Ideology”.