Nigeria digital governance receives EU backing as the nation adopts Estonia’s X-Road system to modernise public service delivery and boost transparency

Nigeria digital governance is set for a major transformation as the Federal Government partners with the European Union to deploy the X-Road system, a secure, open-source infrastructure used in Estonia and Finland to streamline public services.

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EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, announced the collaboration during the Nigeria GovTech Conference and Awards 2025 in Abuja, organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms.

The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s goal to fully digitise government operations by the end of this year.

Mignot explained that the EU will support the adoption of the X-Road model to enable secure, real-time data exchange between government institutions.

The system ensures privacy by limiting access to only the information authorised by the user.

“The digital solution we are deploying is based on the X-Road model used in Estonia,” Mignot said. “It connects public institutions while protecting personal data, allowing citizens to complete transactions securely and efficiently.”

The Nigeria digital governance partnership mirrors successful implementations in Estonia and Finland, which have achieved near-total digitisation of public services.

The EU’s broader digital partnership also includes expanding Nigeria’s fibre-optic network by 90,000 kilometres, boosting digital literacy, and establishing digital transformation centres nationwide.

Additionally, the EU has provided an initial £8 million in grants and loans under the Nigeria Digital Economy Initiative to strengthen infrastructure and promote inclusion in the digital economy.

Bureau of Public Service Reforms Director-General, Dasuki Arabi, said the country is already integrating advanced technologies—such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, and automation—into public service processes.

He added that over 500,000 civil servants will be trained in digital literacy and emerging technologies to sustain innovation.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, represented by Esuabana Nko-Asanye, said digital transformation remains central to President Bola Tinubu’s governance reform agenda.

“By digitising government services, we reduce costs, eliminate bottlenecks, and enhance transparency,” Akume stated.

Federal Civil Service Commission Chairman, Tunji Olaopa, stressed that the reform should go beyond digitisation to full-scale modernisation.

“Artificial intelligence and the Fourth Industrial Revolution are reshaping governance globally. Nigeria must rise to that challenge,” he said.

The X-Road system allows government databases—from taxation to healthcare—to interact securely without requiring citizens to resubmit information.

Experts say the system could improve efficiency, reduce corruption, and strengthen public trust.

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Through this collaboration, Nigeria digital governance is set to advance toward the goals of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020–2030), positioning the country as a leader in Africa’s digital transformation.