The Senate is on track to pass the National Digital Economy and E-Government Bill before the end of the year as part of broader national efforts to expand digital public services, attract sector investment, and deepen connectivity across Nigeria.
The announcement was made by Senator Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, during a panel session on investment climate solutions at the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.
Senator Salisu revealed that the bill has already reached its third reading, bringing the landmark legislation close to final legislative approval.
Once enacted, the law will establish a clear legal framework governing digital transactions and mandate public institutions to fully digitize administrative operations, laying a key regulatory foundation for Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
The bill has reached its third reading, and we are optimistic that it will be passed before the end of the year to establish a robust legal framework for digital transactions and government service delivery.
Senator Afolabi Salisu.
To address high data demand and bridge access gaps beyond commercial urban centers, Senator Salisu highlighted government plans to roll out a 90,000-kilometre fibre-optic network nationwide. The project aims to guarantee universal access to high-speed broadband, including in underserved and rural areas.
Echoing the necessity for robust infrastructure, Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), emphasized that urgent private-public capital deployment is required to replace aging equipment, expand network capacity, and upskill technical personnel.
Investment is needed to extend reliable connectivity beyond major urban centres and close coverage and access gaps.
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, ALTON
Adebayo further urged the Federal Government to implement consistent regulatory policies and guarantee stronger legal protections for Critical National Information Infrastructure, noting that persistent physical damage to underground fibre cables during road construction continues to disrupt services nationwide.
The Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity expects to conclude final legislative reviews on the bill shortly before presenting the consolidated report at plenary for third reading and final passage.
