President Ahmed Tinubu’s Annual Scorecard on ICT Sector Development

It’s that season again when the performance of our elected leaders, especially the president, is put under a forensic microscope to determine how much progress the economy has made in key sectors during the new administration’s first 365 days in office. It’s always an interesting time, characterized by pats on the back and thumbs-up on one hand, and mockery and outrage on the other.

Leaders often blow non-existent trumpets while their lackeys are quick to praise their supposed achievements. This showing off usually infuriates the public, who are quick to point out a whole host of bad policies, mistakes and poor economic management. This script never changes depending on the administration.

A year has passed since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office and it can be expected that the media has been abuzz with various opinions about the administration’s performance during this period. In this article, we will look at how the administration managed the ICT sector in the first year of its term. When President Tinubu returned to office on May 29, 2023, expectations were high for the transformation of Nigeria’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector. And rightly so. The administration underscored its determination to prioritize digital innovation to drive economic growth. This determination has spawned an avalanche of political trusts targeting the ICT sector.

Some of these policies outlined by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, which is tasked with setting direction for the technology industry, include: Launch of the 3,000,000 Technical Talents (3MTT) initiative. The initiative aimed to build Nigeria’s tech talent pool to power the country’s digital economy and position it as a net exporter of talent. The 774LG Connectivity project was also launched to connect all 774 local government secretariats across Nigeria to the Internet. A special purpose vehicle was also launched to provide an additional 90,000 km of fiber-optic cable to improve Internet access throughout the country.

The National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030), an initiative launched under the previous administration, has been revitalized with more aggressive targets and funding. The National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy has also been created to support the start-up ecosystem. It was expected that this policy would create a favorable environment for start-ups. This includes tax incentives, simplified regulatory processes and access to financing through government-backed venture capital funds. The National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy has been updated to take into account emerging threats.

Recognizing the importance of cybersecurity in a rapidly digitizing economy, the Tinubu government has implemented measures to protect the digital space. Efforts include improving cybersecurity infrastructure, enhancing law enforcement’s ability to combat cybercrime, and promoting public awareness of digital security. While these policies and initiatives seem noteworthy, many of them have not moved beyond the documents on which they were written, and a year later the ICT sector is still struggling with the same old problems. However, the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosman Tijani, should be praised. Through his weekly activity updates, Nigerians have an insight into the minister’s efforts to forge collaborations, both locally and internationally, attract investment in the technology space, create much-needed jobs and increase the sector’s contribution to GDP.

It is clear that many policies will require long gestation periods. However, unresolved challenges in the technology sector will render policies and initiatives meaningless and expected results may never be realized. Lack of security, multiple taxation, contentiousness and the high cost of first mover and access to the Forex market are just some of the challenges that will stand in the way of true progress in the industry.

What the government must do in the future

The three tiers of government and their agencies must find ways to cooperate and streamline some conflicting regulations. Such regulations create an uncertain business environment for technology companies. Streamlining regulatory processes and ensuring consistency among government agencies is key to creating a more enabling environment for ICT development.

3MTT was one of the skills development policies that were intended to address the significant skills gap in the ICT sector, related to the shortage of skilled professionals who could meet the industry’s demands. However, the pace of skills development does not keep pace with the needs of the industry. For example, the 3MTT initiative requires further investment to accelerate its progress.

Overall, the path to a fully digital and inclusive economy is fraught with challenges. Closing the digital divide, improving regulatory frameworks, bridging the skills gap, enhancing cybersecurity and securing financing are key areas requiring continued attention and strategic action. Can this administration address these challenges and unleash the full potential of Nigeria’s ICT sector to spur broader economic growth? Your guess is as good as mine.