The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to using technology to enhance transparency, fight corruption, and improve service delivery across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Speaking at a public sector digital transformation conference held in Abuja, Abdullahi said that digital platforms such as e-procurement, e-payment systems, and blockchain-based land registries offer clear audit trails and are difficult to manipulate. According to him, these technologies can drastically reduce cases of fraud, financial leakage, and administrative corruption within the public sector.
“Digital platforms leave audit trails. They are hard to manipulate. E-procurement, e-payment, and blockchain-based land registries can significantly reduce fraud and corruption,” he said.
Abdullahi also emphasised that digitising government processes would not only promote transparency but also reduce wastage and enhance efficiency in service delivery. He described technology as a powerful weapon in the fight against inefficiency and injustice.
He referenced a World Bank report which revealed that countries that adopt digital procurement systems save an average of 20 per cent in public spending. He used the report to drive home the urgency for Nigeria to embrace such digital practices at scale.
Under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Abdullahi explained that NITDA has been working with various MDAs to develop and implement Digital Transformation Plans (DTPs). These plans focus on government automation, cloud technology adoption, and data-driven approaches to service delivery.
He said, “Digital government bridges the gap between rural and urban, young and old, rich and poor. With over 122 million Nigerians online and mobile penetration at over 90 per cent, we must meet citizens where they are: online, mobile, and on-demand.”
Abdullahi stressed the need for digital inclusion to ensure that transformation efforts are not limited to urban areas or specific demographics. He called for more investment in digital infrastructure, capacity building for civil servants, inter-agency cooperation, and strong cybersecurity frameworks to sustain digital governance.
He urged all government agencies to align with digital reform initiatives, saying, “The future of governance in Nigeria depends on how quickly digital transformation is embraced.”
Also speaking at the event, the Country Manager for Nigeria and Regional Head for West Africa at ManageEngine, Srinivasan Rajasekar, highlighted the role of enterprise IT solutions in driving public sector digital transformation. Rajasekar explained that ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation, provides over 60 enterprise IT tools that help automate and manage complex infrastructures, including enterprise service management, endpoint control, and network monitoring.
Rajasekar noted that ManageEngine has been active in Nigeria for over two decades, with a strong footprint in both the public and private sectors. The company, he said, offers flexible deployment options—on-premises and cloud-based—through its local partner, Tranter IT.
Tranter IT’s Group Executive Director, Melanie Ayoola, also spoke at the event. She said IT automation solutions like those offered by ManageEngine are critical to enhancing productivity and streamlining service delivery across government institutions.
According to Ayoola, more than 50 per cent of Nigeria’s largest organisations already rely on ManageEngine for managing help desks, resolving IT issues, and ensuring endpoint security. She warned that in large government settings, unresolved IT incidents can stall public services and negatively affect overall workforce efficiency.
With over 160 MDAs in attendance at the event, Ayoola disclosed that the company aims to achieve a 30 per cent increase in government adoption of IT automation solutions before the end of 2025.
The event ended with a strong consensus on the importance of embracing digital tools to achieve a more transparent, inclusive, and responsive government system.
