FG, EU Intensify Partnership to Strengthen Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in a significant move to accelerate its digital transformation agenda, has launched a strategic partnership with the European Union (EU) to advance data exchange within the country. The initiative, led by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, is focused on establishing a Nigeria Data Exchange Platform (NGDX), which will serve as a secure and efficient framework for sharing data across government and businesses.

The announcement was made during a technical roundtable on the NGDX, convened with the support of the EU and its “Team Europe” partners from Estonia, Finland, Germany, and France. The collaboration is part of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, which aims to promote trusted digital solutions and foster stronger economic ties between Europe and Africa. The EU’s Head of Cooperation in Nigeria, Massimo De Luca, announced a dedicated €18 million in support for Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as part of this effort.

Minister Tijani described the NGDX as the “next frontier” of Nigeria’s digital transformation, positioning it as the third foundational rail of the country’s DPI, alongside the existing national identity and payments systems. The platform is designed to eliminate a common frustration for Nigerians: the need to repeatedly submit the same personal data from biometrics to contact information to different government agencies. With the NGDX, authorized institutions will be able to verify and share records securely, saving time and resources for both citizens and the government.

The minister assured stakeholders that the new platform would fully comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023, a piece of legislation that was inspired by the EU’s own General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This commitment to data privacy and security is a cornerstone of the partnership and is expected to build public trust in the country’s e-governance initiatives. The government has set a target to deliver a functional national data exchange by the end of 2025.

Beyond public service, the NGDX is also expected to benefit the private sector, particularly fintech companies, by enabling faster Know Your Customer (KYC) checks. By creating a transparent and regulated environment for data exchange, the collaboration is poised to not only improve governance but also unlock new avenues for innovation, economic growth, and efficient service delivery across Nigeria.