A NICI workshop supported by various
international development partners, including ECA, brought together various stakeholders
in Abuja, in March 2000. The main recommendations of the workshop were to set up an ICT
coordination mechanism and to develop a NICI policy and plan. Consequently, the Nigerian
Information and Communication Technology Agency (NICTA) was created under the umbrella of
the Ministry of Science and Technology. NICTA has produced a document entitled “Nigerian National Policy for
Information Technology (IT)” that was issued under the auspices of the
Ministry of Science and Technology. The policy document that has 31 objectives among
others emphasizes the need for harnessing ICT for education, wealth creation, poverty
eradication, job creation and global competitiveness.
The key strategies outlined in the policy document include: establishing a national fund
for ICT, setting up an ICT development agency, harnessing ICT to improve government
operations, empowering the public, private sector and small and medium enterprises by
creating enabling environment, harnessing ICT in education and health sectors and setting
up information technology parks. The document is believed to stir public debate on the key
areas identified by the policy drafting committee. ECA and UNDP are expected to spearhead
this process in order to assist Nigeria to put in place a comprehensive ICT policy and
NICI Plan for implementation, at both the federal and governments level. A Development
Agency for ICT - the National Information
Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is put in place to coordinate the
elaboration of a National Strategy.
NITDA has been
undertaking a series of activities in the framework of the NICI development
process, including sensitization and training of high level decision
makers including Permanent Secretaries and Director Generals of Government
Departments. A National Strategic NICI Planning Committee of 23 members
was set up and inaugurated on 7 August 2003 with membership from all
stakeholders. The Committee, which is chaired by Prof. A. AKINOLA
of the University of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, gave itself
6 months to complete the framework document and the NICI Plan.
The implementation
plan is being developed and reviewed.
Following consultations between ECA and the Government, a Nigerian
National Strategic Action Plan committee was established. It is mandated
by the Federal Government to draw up an e-strategy action plan and
programs in line with the national development objectives and priorities.
The Committee is composed of representatives of all the development
sectors in Nigeria. Several subcommittees have been created to work
on various sub-plans for integration into a single plan by an international
expert. The draft NICI plan is currently under review and is expected
to be validated by the Federal Government early 2007.
Telecom Regulation
A consultant was recruited to examine telecommunication regulation
within the framework of the national ICT implementation plan being
developed in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Two well-documented reports
on ICT convergence in Nigeria and Sierra Leone with clear recommendations
on integrated institutional mechanisms and the way forward are expected
by December 2006.
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