The European Union (EU) has announced its support for Nigeria through the deployment of the X-Road model of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), as successfully implemented in Finland and Estonia.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, disclosed this on Thursday at the Nigeria GovTech Conference and Awards 2025, organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in Abuja.
The conference, themed “Redefining Possibilities: Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Public Service Delivery and Socio-Economic Development,” focused on leveraging innovation to improve governance and service delivery.
X-Road is an open-source software framework that enables secure, real-time data exchange between different information systems, serving as a backbone for digital public infrastructure.
Mignot explained that the model would interconnect public sector systems while ensuring data protection and privacy.
“The model is designed to protect users’ data by limiting access strictly to authorised information,” he said. “Whether it’s school registration, insurance, or other public services, the system ensures seamless interaction with government platforms.”
He noted that the EU’s support extends beyond the deployment of X-Road, including the rollout of 90,000 additional kilometres of fibre optic cables, enhancement of digital literacy and skills, and establishment of digital transformation centres across Nigeria.
Mignot added that these initiatives complement the initial £8 million in grants and loans provided under the Nigeria Digital Economy Initiative.
Director-General of BPSR, Dr. Dasuki Arabi, said the Bureau had introduced several initiatives to strengthen digitalisation across government institutions for greater efficiency.
“We must now focus on developing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, process automation, and blockchain,” he said.
Arabi explained that BPSR, in partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), began integrating these technologies about three years ago—efforts that are now reflected in national digital policies.
He further revealed that the Bureau is working to adopt distributed ledger technologies to simplify routine tasks, secure sensitive communications, and optimise resource allocation for improved service delivery.
“Nigeria must invest in people, who are the true enablers of innovation,” Arabi added. “That is why we are committed to training over 500,000 public servants in digital literacy and emerging technologies to ensure long-term sustainability.”
Also speaking, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, represented by Mrs. Esuabana Nko-Asanye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, said major reforms were underway to strengthen the interoperability of government platforms and enhance digital identity management.
“Digital governance thrives in an enabling environment, which is why government continues to prioritise policies and legal frameworks that ensure data protection, foster aggregation, and encourage private sector participation,” Akume said.
He added that government is also investing in capacity building to equip public servants with the digital skills needed for effective service delivery.
“By digitising government services, we reduce the cost of living, enhance the ease of doing business, eliminate bottlenecks, and create a transparent environment that attracts investment,” he said.
