The federal government has set a target of 25 percent contribution from the Information and Communications Technology (ICT)/ digital economy sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030.

The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani announced this at a stakeholders meeting at Fraise Suites Hotel in Abuja on Thursday.

Dr Tijani said the government has taken bold initiatives to harness the ICT and Digital Economy sector to achieve maximum results in terms of empowerment and jobs creation, deepening financial inclusion, and improving all sectors of national economy.

The Minister spoke through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Rafiu Adeladan at the Stakeholders Engagement on the National Digital Economy Bill currently before the National Assembly.

The event was attended by the Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa, the Postmaster General of the Federation, Tola Odeyemi, the National Commissioner for the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, the Managing Director of NigComSat, Mrs Jane Egerton-Idehen, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Aminu Wada Maida and the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone limited, Prof Ibrahim Adeyanju.

Dr Tijani described the Bill as critical to Nigeria’s National Digital Economy and prosperity, saying at the moment the country has no deep and effective legal frameworks for electronic transactions and e-commerce.

He said the bill would among others address components of electronic transactions that deal with authentication, revocation of transactions, auditing and e-commerce to ensure that government revenues are tracked for maximum collections through digital platforms.

The Minister said the gathering provided Stakeholders the unique opportunity to deliberate collectively on the provisions of the bill and its implications for Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

Dr Tijani who described data usage on digital economy ecosystem as the new oil, noted that in quarter one of 2025, the digital economy/ICT sector contributed about seven billion naira to Nigeria real Gross Domestic Product, (GDP).

He said the figure accounted for 14 percent of the entire GDP in the period under review, asserting that the gathering was aimed at ensuring that more revenues and opportunities come the way of government and the people through the operability of the bill.

“Currently, the ICT/digital economy sector contributes 16 to 18% of GDP, with clear strategies to increase this to 25% by 2030. The National Digital and E-Government Bill seeks to establish a robust legal and regulatory framework that will guide the implementation of digital governance in Nigeria,” the Minister said.

“Today, we have amassed a wide array of stakeholders, representatives from government agencies, private partners, civil society organizations, development partners, the legal community, and the general public.

” Your perspectives and contributions are critical as they will shape the final content of this bill and ensure it meets the aspirations of all Nigerians,” Dr Tijani said.

The Director General of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa said a lot is being done by the government to ensure that Nigeria benefit maximally from the digital economy ecosystem, saying the bill when passed into would greatly advance the interests of the country.

Malam Inuwa explained that critical stakeholders are being brought together to brainstorm on various components of the bill as it’s expected that the bill would not only address current challenges, but expected future occurrences in the digital ecosystem. (THE NATION)