By BONIFACE AKARAH

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for stronger collaboration among government regulators as Nigeria moves towards establishing a National Regulatory Sandbox designed to allow emerging technologies to be tested under appropriate regulatory supervision.

The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the call at the National Regulatory Sandbox Governance and Implementation Planning Workshop held recently in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed the proposed governance structure and implementation framework for the initiative.

Inuwa, who was represented by the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Ms Victoria Fabunmi, said inter-agency cooperation would be critical to creating a regulatory environment that supports innovation without compromising regulatory integrity and public trust.

He said the workshop represented a major transition from the design stage of the initiative to implementation, with participating regulators expected to jointly review, refine and validate the proposed governance framework.

“The success of the initiative depends on regulators working collectively to develop a framework that promotes technological innovation while preserving regulatory integrity and public trust,” Inuwa said.

According to him, ONDI has spent several months preparing the groundwork for the Sandbox through stakeholder consultations, ecosystem mapping, regulatory assessments and the development of a draft governance and implementation framework.

“The work completed so far provides a solid foundation, but the National Regulatory Sandbox can only achieve its objectives through collective ownership by all relevant regulatory institutions,” he said.

Inuwa explained that the Technical Working Group was established as a collaborative platform to bring together the expertise, experience and statutory responsibilities of participating agencies in developing a regulatory model suited to Nigeria's rapidly changing digital economy.

He said the workshop would also help identify implementation gaps, establish clear pathways for operationalising the Sandbox and strengthen institutional partnerships among regulators.

Speaking on the initiative's implementation journey, Ms Ojonoka Yusufu, Implementing Partner, Druve, said the Sandbox would create a coordinated environment where innovators and regulators could work together to test emerging technologies while ensuring compliance with existing laws.

“We do not have anything set in stone yet. The idea is to work together to build a common understanding and ensure that all participating regulators and stakeholders are aligned on the objectives and implementation of the National Regulatory Sandbox,” Yusufu said.

She noted that Nigeria's Information and Communications Technology sector remains one of the country's significant contributors to Gross Domestic Product, while its startup ecosystem continues to attract global investment and create employment opportunities.

Yusufu said the expansion of Nigerian startups into sectors including healthcare, mobility and agriculture, beyond the more established fintech space, had made closer regulatory coordination increasingly important.

She added that the National Regulatory Sandbox is backed by the Nigeria Startup Act and is intended to complement existing regulatory institutions rather than replace them.

NITDA said the initiative is expected to provide innovators with a structured environment to develop, test and scale emerging technologies under appropriate regulatory oversight.

Inuwa expressed optimism that the ongoing stakeholder engagement would produce a practical and adaptable framework capable of supporting responsible innovation and strengthening Nigeria's digital economy.

The initiative also seeks to create a shared national approach to regulating emerging technologies, while ensuring that innovation can progress without undermining public confidence, legal compliance or institutional mandates.

•PHOTO: Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, represented by the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Mrs. Victoria Fabunmi, delivering his remarks at the National Regulatory Sandbox Governance and Implementation Planning Workshop held in Abuja.