By Emmanuel Ogbodo
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has given Nigeria a score of 71% in terms of legal, policy, and governance frameworks for digital transformation readiness, known as G5 readiness. This score was revealed in a report by the ITU and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and presented by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, in Abuja.
Nigeria ranks among the top seven African countries in the 5G Readiness Index, reflecting its preparedness to deploy mass-market 5G networks. The report, titled “Collaborative Regulation: Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Transformation” and presented by ITU’s Kagwira Nkonge, includes a case study on Nigeria’s move towards collaborative digital governance and evidence-based policymaking.
The ITU evaluated countries based on accomplishments in national collaborative governance, policy design principles, digital development toolbox, and digital economic policy agenda. Nigeria scored 91% in regulatory capacity, 82% in Market Rules, 81% in Collaborative Governance, 76% in Legal Instruments for ICT/Telecom markets, and 69% in National Digital Agenda Policy.
Dr. Tijani praised the ITU and partner agencies for the report, emphasising the government’s dedication to using it as a guide for achieving a robust digital economy. He highlighted the importance of modern regulations to enhance business operations and increase local content in the sector.
He noted that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has evolved to regulate the broader foundation of the economy, beyond just telecommunications. The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, welcomed the report’s indicators for effective regulation, investment attraction, and broader digital inclusion. He stressed that collaborative regulation will aid Nigeria’s shift to effective digital governance.
The report was presented to key industry stakeholders, including service providers, government agencies, and representatives of multilateral institutions. It complements existing benchmarks assessing countries’ policy and regulatory environments according to the Generations of Regulation frameworks, with Nigeria currently at the G4 level.
