The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Benin Republic’s Information Systems and Digital Agency (ASIN) have moved to deepen bilateral cooperation. The partnership focuses on accelerating digital transformation, expanding digital public infrastructure (DPI), and advancing innovation-driven governance across the West African region.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a courtesy visit by the Beninese delegation to NITDA’s corporate headquarters in Abuja. Both agencies held extensive discussions on sharing best practices and building resilient digital ecosystems to support sustainable regional growth.
Speaking on behalf of NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa, Dr. Aristotle Onumo (Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships) emphasized Nigeria’s shift from basic digitization to building an intelligent, data-driven government powered by emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
To guide this transition, NITDA has deployed foundational frameworks—including the Enterprise Governance, Digital Transformation, and Software Quality Assurance Frameworks—across government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Fiscal Impact: Since 2018, NITDA has reviewed over ₦1.5 trillion worth of government IT projects. By eliminating duplications and promoting shared services, the agency has saved the Federal Government more than ₦300 billion while significantly improving project success rates.
On the infrastructure front, Nigeria has moved away from fragmented, agency-to-agency data exchanges. Instead, the country now utilizes the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platform—a federated, centralized framework that allows seamless data sharing while preserving the autonomy of individual agency systems. Legal backing for this ecosystem will be further strengthened by the upcoming e-Government and Digital Economy Bill.
Tildy Erlong, Head of International Partnerships at ASIN, noted that the visit aimed to strengthen institutional ties following a recent Smart Africa workshop in Abuja.
As the operational arm of Benin Republic’s digital ministry, ASIN works alongside key institutions like ANIP (the national identity agency) and CENIN (the cybersecurity agency) to implement strategic national projects. Erlong shared impressive benchmarks from Benin’s own digital journey:
- Digital Identity: Approximately 98% of Benin’s population (around 13.6 million citizens) has been successfully enrolled on its national digital identity platform.
- Interoperability: More than 60 government agencies and service institutions are interconnected via Benin’s XROAD interoperability platform.
- Service Delivery: The integrated ecosystem currently delivers over 250 digital services to citizens, with a strong focus on open-source systems and AI deployment in healthcare, education, and justice.
The collaboration directly aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) 2024–2027. This roadmap prioritizes critical pillars such as digital literacy, cybersecurity, robust research and development, and strategic international partnerships to ensure West Africa remains highly competitive in the global digital economy.