The Federal Government of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have taken a significant step towards advancing the nation’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) with the launch of a high-level roundtable on the Nigeria Data Exchange Platform (NGDX).
The initiative, led by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, in partnership with the EU and Team Europe members—Estonia, Finland, Germany, and France—aims to create secure, inclusive, and trusted digital systems for citizens and businesses.
According to a statement released by the EU, the Nigeria Data Exchange Conference, facilitated through the EU’s Digital for Development Hub, brought together government officials, lawmakers, regulators, industry stakeholders, and global partners. Discussions focused on the vision, governance, and technical framework required to establish the NGDX as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
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NGDX: The Third Pillar of Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure
The NGDX is designed as the third critical component of Nigeria’s DPI, complementing the National Identity System and the National Payments Infrastructure.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, described the platform as central to Nigeria’s technology-driven future:
“Nigeria already has two of the three critical stacks for DPI—the National Identity rail and the Payments rail. The next frontier is a trusted Data Exchange that ensures secure data sharing between government and businesses, while protecting citizens’ privacy and delivering better services.”
He noted that the NGDX will operate under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, which enforces citizens’ rights to privacy and empowers the National Data Protection Commission. Tijani further revealed that the data exchange system is expected to be fully functional by 2025, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
EU Commits €18 Million to Nigeria’s Digital Growth
The EU reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s digital economy, with Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, announcing a funding package of €18 million to support the rollout of DPI.
Highlighting Nigeria’s strategic role in the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy and International Digital Strategy, De Luca stated:
“Digital Public Infrastructure is more than just technology—it empowers societies through secure digital identities, seamless payments, and trusted data governance. But such frameworks require strong legal safeguards. DPI must remain inclusive, secure, human-centric, and sustainable.”
He further outlined several EU-backed initiatives accelerating Nigeria’s digital journey, including:
BRIDGE Project: Deployment of 90,000 km of fibre-optic cables nationwide.
3MITT Programme: Providing Nigerian youth with critical ICT and digital skills.
Other collaborative projects to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.
De Luca described the NGDX roundtable as “a first step towards a fully-fledged EU support to DPI in Nigeria,” adding that the new funding will help drive economic growth while fostering a secure and inclusive digital ecosystem.