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The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has emphasised that digital technology plays a critical role in combating corruption and inefficiency in government operations.
Speaking through the Assistant Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr. Olufemi Adeluyi, at the recently concluded ITGov 2025 Conference in Abuja, Abdullahi highlighted the power of digital tools in reforming public sector governance. Themed ‘Advancing Government Operations Through Digital Transformation’, the event convened key stakeholders from across government and the tech ecosystem to explore how digital innovation can reshape governance.
According to the NITDA DG, the adoption of e-government platforms can significantly deter fraud by introducing transparency and accountability. “Digital platforms leave audit trails and are hard to manipulate. Solutions such as e-procurement, e-payment systems, and blockchain-powered land registries have the potential to drastically reduce corruption in public institutions,” he stated.
Abdullahi further noted that beyond curbing malpractices, digital transformation boosts service delivery and optimises government expenditure. Citing a World Bank report, he said that nations that have digitised their procurement processes typically save up to 20% in public spending. He stressed that Nigeria must leverage similar systems to improve fiscal responsibility.
Under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA has collaborated with numerous Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to implement Digital Transformation Plans. These efforts focus on automation, cloud adoption, and data-driven service models across government.
Highlighting the need for inclusive digitisation, Abdullahi said: “Digital government bridges the divide between urban and rural communities, rich and poor, young and old. With more than 122 million Nigerians online and mobile penetration exceeding 90%, the government must meet citizens where they are — online, mobile, and on-demand.”
He also called for sustained investment in digital infrastructure, capacity development for civil servants, inter-agency collaboration, and robust cybersecurity frameworks to ensure the long-term success of Nigeria’s digital governance strategy.
Also addressing the conference, Srinivasan Rajasekar, Country Manager for Nigeria and Regional Head for West Africa at ManageEngine, underscored the importance of IT automation in public sector reform. ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation, offers more than 60 enterprise IT management tools, including solutions for service delivery, endpoint management, and network monitoring.
Rajasekar noted that the company has been active in Nigeria for over two decades, supporting both public and private institutions through its local partner, Tranter IT, with flexible on-premises and cloud-based deployments.
Speaking on the adoption of IT automation in government, Melanie Ayoola, Group Executive Director at Tranter IT, said that solutions like ManageEngine are already used by over 50% of Nigeria’s largest enterprises. These tools help resolve IT incidents efficiently, ensure endpoint security, and reduce operational delays in large government institutions.
With more than 160 MDAs represented at the event, Ayoola revealed the company’s goal of increasing government adoption of automation technologies by 30% before the end of the year. “In large-scale public service delivery, unresolved IT issues can significantly disrupt productivity. Automation is no longer optional — it is a necessity,” she concluded.
The conference underscored a growing consensus that digital transformation is key to driving transparency, efficiency, and accountability in Nigeria’s public sector.
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