Nigeria Digital Public Infrastructure gets a major boost as the EU backs secure, inclusive digital systems with €18 million to advance the NGDX platform

Nigeria Digital Public Infrastructure is set to receive a major boost as the Federal Government and the European Union intensify efforts to build secure and inclusive digital systems.

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The initiative, led by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in partnership with the EU and Team Europe countries—Estonia, Finland, Germany, and France—was highlighted at a high-level roundtable on the Nigeria Data Exchange Platform (NGDX).

The conference convened government officials, regulators, lawmakers, industry leaders, and international partners to define the vision, governance, and technical framework for the NGDX.

This platform forms the third pillar of Nigeria’s DPI, complementing the National Identity System and the National Payments Infrastructure.

Minister of Communications, Dr. Bosun Tijani, called the NGDX central to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

“The next frontier is a trusted Data Exchange that enables secure data sharing while ensuring citizens enjoy better services with privacy, security, and accountability,” he said.

The platform will operate under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, confirmed €18 million in funding to support Nigeria’s DPI.

He emphasized that digital public infrastructure is not just about technology—it drives inclusion, security, and economic growth while safeguarding citizens’ privacy.

Ongoing EU-backed projects like BRIDGE’s 90,000 km fibre-optic rollout and the 3MITT ICT skills programme for youth were also highlighted as part of the wider digital transition.

De Luca stressed that this roundtable represents a first step toward full EU support in establishing Nigeria’s secure and human-centric digital ecosystem.

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The NGDX is expected to be fully functional by the end of 2025, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.