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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has intensified efforts to establish Nigeria’s National Regulatory Sandbox, calling on regulators across key sectors to strengthen collaboration in building a coordinated framework that supports innovation while safeguarding public trust and regulatory compliance.
The call was made during the National Regulatory Sandbox Governance and Implementation Planning Workshopheld in Abuja, where regulators and stakeholders gathered to validate the governance structure and implementation roadmap for the initiative.
Representing the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Victoria Fabunmi, emphasised that effective regulation of emerging technologies requires closer cooperation among government institutions rather than fragmented oversight.
According to her, creating an innovation-friendly ecosystem will depend on regulatory agencies working collectively to develop policies that encourage technological advancement without compromising consumer protection, market integrity, or national interests.
Sandbox moves from planning to implementation
The workshop marked a significant milestone in the development of the National Regulatory Sandbox, transitioning the initiative from the design phase into implementation.
Following months of ecosystem mapping, regulatory assessments, stakeholder engagement, and framework development led by ONDI, the project is now entering the stage where participating regulators will jointly refine and validate the governance model.
The proposed framework is intended to provide innovators with a controlled environment to develop, test, and scale emerging technologies under regulatory supervision while ensuring compliance with existing legal and policy requirements.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General, Fabunmi noted that the success of the initiative will depend on collective ownership by all participating regulatory institutions.
“The work completed so far provides a solid foundation, but the National Regulatory Sandbox can only achieve its objectives through collective ownership by all relevant regulatory institutions,” she said.
According to NITDA, the Technical Working Group was intentionally established as a collaborative platform to leverage the expertise, regulatory mandates, and institutional experience of participating agencies in designing a governance model suited to Nigeria’s rapidly evolving innovation landscape.
The agency explained that the workshop was organised to critically review the proposed governance framework, assess its practical applicability, and incorporate recommendations from regulators and stakeholders to ensure that the final model is inclusive, flexible, and responsive to emerging technologies.
Strengthening regulatory coordination
NITDA stressed that while regulatory agencies have different statutory responsibilities, these differences should be viewed as complementary strengths that can contribute to a coordinated and adaptive regulatory ecosystem.
The agency noted that closer institutional collaboration will help establish clear implementation pathways, strengthen partnerships among regulators, and identify priority actions required to operationalise the National Regulatory Sandbox.
It added that the initiative is expected to foster a shared national vision for innovation governance while providing startups and technology companies with a secure environment to develop and deploy innovative solutions under appropriate regulatory oversight.
The Director-General also commended participating institutions for their commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem and encouraged stakeholders to contribute practical recommendations that would strengthen the country’s regulatory framework, promote sustainable economic growth, and improve Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Sandbox backed by Nigeria Startup Act
Speaking on the progress of the National Regulatory Sandbox, Implementing Partner at Druve, Ojonoka Yusufu, described the initiative as a collaborative framework designed to enable regulators and innovators to work together in testing emerging technologies while maintaining compliance with existing laws and regulatory standards.
She explained that the workshop was convened to build a common understanding among participating regulators, develop consensus around the Sandbox’s operating model, identify implementation gaps ahead of deployment, and agree on the next steps for nationwide implementation.
“We do not have anything set in stone yet. The idea is to work together to build a common understanding and ensure that all participating regulators and stakeholders are aligned on the objectives and implementation of the National Regulatory Sandbox,” she said.
Yusufu noted that Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector remains one of the country’s largest contributors to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while the nation’s startup ecosystem continues to attract significant international investment.
She observed that Nigerian startups are driving job creation, attracting capital, and strengthening the country’s position as one of Africa’s leading innovation hubs.
According to her, the expansion of startups beyond fintech into sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, mobility, education, and other technology-driven industries has increased the need for stronger coordination among regulators.
She further explained that the National Regulatory Sandbox derives its legal foundation from the Nigeria Startup Act, providing a statutory basis for promoting responsible innovation and improving the country’s regulatory environment.
Yusufu described the Sandbox as a multi-agency governance mechanism designed to complement existing regulatory institutions by facilitating collaboration, encouraging innovation, and supporting the safe deployment of emerging technologies across Nigeria’s digital economy.
Supporting responsible innovation
The National Regulatory Sandbox forms part of broader efforts by NITDA to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy by creating a more coordinated regulatory environment for startups and emerging technologies.
By enabling innovators to test new products and services within a supervised framework, the initiative is expected to reduce regulatory uncertainty, encourage investment, improve compliance, and accelerate the commercialisation of innovative solutions across multiple sectors.
Industry stakeholders believe the collaborative approach will enhance regulatory efficiency while positioning Nigeria as a more attractive destination for technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital investment.
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