Nigeria’s technology agency is intensifying its oversight of all government Information Technology (IT) projects after its Director General, Kashifu Abdullahi, revealed that billions of Naira have been wasted on schemes that fail to deliver. The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says it is determined to reverse this trend and ensure public funds are used effectively to drive digital transformation.
NITDA, under the leadership of Mr. Abdullahi, has been engaging with key government bodies, including the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, and the Bureau of Public Procurement, to promote a more rigorous approach to IT project management.
The agency is advocating its updated IT Project Clearance Guidance Document, a framework designed to standardise the planning, funding, and execution of these initiatives. This revised guidance, building on a 2018 version, prioritises cost-effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and transparency. Under Nigerian law, NITDA is the mandated clearing house for all government IT endeavors.
Mr. Abdullahi recently highlighted the alarming statistic that over half – 56 percent – of government IT projects have failed to meet their promised outcomes. He attributed this to issues such as a rush to adopt the latest technology without adequate planning, poor design, and a lack of focus on the actual business benefits the projects were intended to deliver.
To combat this significant drain on public resources, NITDA has revamped its IT Clearance Guidelines. The agency believes that in the past, many Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have been overly reliant on contractors who both designed and implemented projects, leading to a lack of accountability and transparency.
The aim now is to foster a more cohesive digital infrastructure across government. Mr. Abdullahi stressed the need to move away from isolated IT systems that cannot communicate effectively, drawing an analogy to how interconnected IT systems should function to deliver seamless public services.
The updated guidelines outline a clear three-stage process for IT project implementation: solution design, implementation, and quality assurance. In a move to enhance accountability, NITDA has announced that contractors will need to have licensed and certified employees in these three areas to be eligible for government IT contracts. These measures are specifically designed to tackle corruption, prevent the costly duplication of IT projects, and ensure that government technology investments drive genuine improvements in efficiency, equity, and fairness in public service.
At the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Director General, Adebowale Adedokun, stressed the importance of standardising bidding documents for IT projects. He expressed concern that IT projects were sometimes misused to misappropriate public funds. He believes the new guidelines will help in the development of Nigeria’s IT sector.
NITDA and the Bureau of Public Procurement have agreed to establish a joint working committee to develop the implementation plan and sign a formal agreement.
The Auditor General of the Federation, Shaakaa Chira, welcomed NITDA’s initiative and assured that his office would conduct performance audits to assess the effectiveness of the new guidelines once implemented.
Similarly, the Accountant General, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, commended NITDA’s efforts to standardise IT project implementation and expressed readiness to support the integration of the clearance guidelines into financial processes, recognising their potential to enhance financial oversight and contribute to a more digitally advanced public sector.
NITDA reports that its previous efforts in clearing IT projects since 2018 have already saved the country over 300 billion Naira (approximately equivalent to several hundred million US dollars). The agency hopes that these renewed efforts, spearheaded by Mr. Abdullahi, will further curb inefficiencies and promote better value for public money in technology investments.
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