Nigeria’s Digital Economy: NITDA Report Reveals Gaps in Smartphone Usage, Online Services

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched the Nigeria Tech Outlook Report 2026 and an accompanying dashboard to provide evidence-based insights into the country’s digital economy and guide policy decisions, investments and innovation.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, unveiled the report at the 2026 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE) in Abuja, describing it as an initiative to establish a credible national picture of Nigeria’s digital development.

He said the report consolidates data from different sectors to identify progress, expose gaps and provide a basis for measuring the country’s digital transformation annually.
“This report is a national baseline. Its value will be measured by the decisions and investments it improves,” Mr Abdullahi said.

The report examines financial services, telecommunications, commerce, e-government, e-health, digital access, skills, trust and inclusion.
Based on 2,147 household interviews, 539 health facility interviews, 15 key informant interviews and administrative records from 10 institutions, the research provides evidence across 97 of 105 indicators in its assessment framework, while eight indicators remain data gaps.

Among the findings, 86.5 per cent of Nigerian adults hold financial accounts, while only 40.6 per cent personally use a smartphone.

The report also reveals that 75.9 per cent of adults are willing to use telemedicine if available, but only 6.6 per cent purchased goods online in the three months preceding the survey.
It further indicates that 17.9 per cent used government services online in the previous 12 months, while 13.1 per cent reported personal experience of digital financial fraud.

Mr Abdullahi said the findings underscored the need to improve digital access, usage, skills, trust and inclusion.

“Access is expanding, but usage, trust, skills and inclusion must improve together,” he said.

The Director-General explained that the accompanying dashboard would make the findings accessible to government institutions, investors, researchers, innovators and development partners, enabling them to identify opportunities and direct resources towards demonstrated needs.

He said the initiative would also promote better coordination among institutions, encourage research commercialisation and enable stakeholders to assess progress through annual reviews.

Mr Abdullahi called for collective action to translate the findings into practical interventions, stronger institutions and investments capable of improving the lives of Nigerians.

NACCIMA CALLS FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION OF SMALL BUSINESSES
In a related development, the National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Jani Ibrahim, has said digital transformation must extend to small businesses if Nigeria is to achieve its one-trillion-dollar economy ambition by 2030.

He said the country’s economic growth depended on improving productivity across agriculture, manufacturing, mining, logistics and other sectors through technology and investment.
With nearly 40 million micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Nigeria, Mr Ibrahim stressed that digital transformation must go beyond large corporations to reach businesses across the country.

“Any digital strategy that does not reach small businesses is not yet a national strategy,” Mr Ibrahim said.
The NACCIMA president also urged businesses and investors to support local technology companies through funding, partnerships and commercial opportunities.

“Do not merely admire Nigerian innovation. Please buy it, and not only do that, fund it,” he said.
USTDA BACKS AI-READY DATA CENTRE IN NIGERIA
Meanwhile, the United States has expressed support for investments in advanced data centres in Nigeria to meet the growing demand for cloud computing, data storage and artificial intelligence services.

The Chargé d’Affaires of the US Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, Jimmy Mauldin, said the country’s expanding digital economy required modern infrastructure to support emerging technologies
He cited a feasibility study supported by the US Trade and Development Agency for superintelligence-ready data centres in Nigeria.

“Investment in digital infrastructure can create jobs. It can attract capital. It can strengthen resilience. And it can help support the next generation of digital services,” Mr Mauldin said.
Also speaking, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, represented by the Commander of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Major General Emmanuel Mustapha, described cybersecurity as a national security priority.

The conference is expected to provide a platform for translating Nigeria’s digital ambitions into concrete partnerships, investment commitments and solutions capable of strengthening the country’s economy.