The Federal Government has announced plans to adopt a European-style model of digital governance, with support from the European Union (EU) to deploy the X-Road system, an advanced digital infrastructure pioneered in Estonia and Finland.
This open-source platform, which securely connects government databases and enables seamless information exchange among public institutions, is expected to transform service delivery and enhance transparency across Nigeria’s public sector.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, disclosed this during the Nigeria GovTech Conference and Awards 2025, organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in Abuja. The event aligns with the Federal Government’s plan to fully digitise civil service operations before the end of the year.
EU backs Nigeria’s digital transformation push
Speaking at the conference themed “Redefining Possibilities: Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Public Service Delivery and Socio-Economic Development,” Ambassador Mignot said the EU was assisting Nigeria in adopting the X-Road digital infrastructure to connect ministries, departments, and agencies in real time while safeguarding user privacy.
“The model we’re introducing is one already in use in Estonia and Finland. It links all public sector institutions and enables secure communication between them and the citizens,” Mignot explained.
“In Estonia, for instance, if you need car insurance, the system automatically connects your details with the insurance company and the vehicle inspection service. It all happens securely, and your data is never exposed beyond what you authorise.”
He added that the initiative mirrors successful European deployments that have achieved near-total digitisation of government services, improving efficiency and public trust.
The EU envoy further revealed that the partnership also includes the rollout of 90,000 kilometres of additional fibre-optic cables, expansion of digital literacy programmes, and establishment of digital transformation centres across Nigeria. An initial £8 million in grants and loans has been provided under the Nigeria Digital Economy Initiative, aimed at strengthening broadband infrastructure, improving data management, and promoting digital inclusion.
Public service embracing AI, blockchain, and automation
The Director-General of BPSR, Dasuki Arabi, said Nigeria’s civil service is already undergoing massive digital reforms designed to boost efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
He noted that the Bureau, in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, process automation, and blockchain into government operations.
“We must begin to develop and adapt emerging technologies in government processes,” Arabi said.
“Our goal is to train over 500,000 public servants in digital literacy to ensure that innovation within the civil service is sustainable and people-driven.”
He added that distributed ledger technologies are being introduced to secure documents, optimise resources, and streamline administrative tasks.
Tinubu administration targets full digital transition
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, represented by Esuabana Nko-Asanye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, said the government’s digital transformation agenda is a key component of President Bola Tinubu’s reform strategy to modernise governance and improve service delivery.
“By digitising government services, we cut the cost of living and ease the cost of doing business,” Akume said.
“This approach eliminates bottlenecks, enhances transparency, attracts investment, and unlocks innovation within our economy.”
He assured that the government continues to strengthen policies that safeguard data privacy, promote private sector participation, and build capacity among public servants.
From digitisation to modernisation
Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Tunji Olaopa, stressed that Nigeria must look beyond basic digitisation to full modernisation, leveraging artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to redefine governance.
“Artificial intelligence and automation are reshaping governance worldwide. Nigeria must modernise its institutions to take advantage of this expanding frontier,” Olaopa said.
He noted that the GovTech initiative is helping Nigeria build resilience, improve citizen engagement, and prepare its workforce for the coming Fifth Industrial Revolution.
A digital future for governance
Originally developed in Estonia and later adopted by Finland, the X-Road system serves as a backbone for secure, real-time data exchange across government and private institutions. It enables databases ranging from tax and healthcare to education and transportation to “talk” to each other without requiring citizens to repeatedly submit the same information.
Experts believe the system could drastically reduce corruption, eliminate duplication, speed up services, and enhance transparency in Nigeria’s governance framework.
The collaboration between Nigeria and the European Union marks a significant milestone in implementing the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020–2030), which envisions transforming Nigeria into a leading digital economy in Africa.
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