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Nigeria’s Digital Economy Sector To Generate N18.3bn By 2026 – Minister

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

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…as NASS say national digital economy bill will revolutionise Nigeria

By Gloria Ikibah

Nigeria’s digital economy sector is estimated to generate about N18.3 billion by 2026, this is as stated by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani.

The Minister revealed this at a press briefing on the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill organised by the Senate Committee on Information, Communication Technology (ICT) and Cybersecurity and House of Representatives Committee on Digital and Information Communication Technology.

According to him, the bill was long overdue to properly and fully harness the potential of the sector in the country, especially as the sector is the backbone for any economy and a prerequisite for any prosperous nation.

He said, “For those who follow the growth and trajectory of our economy in Nigeria, you should probably know that the ICT sector contributes about 13 to 18 percent of GDP. In Q4 2023 the sector contributed about 16.6 percent of GDP.

“The digital economy recorded about N5.49 billion in revenue in 2019. This sector is being projected to generate up to N18.3 billion by 2026.

“Nigeria is one of the top two destinations for capital foreign direct investment to technology staff in Africa. Last year we recorded about 2 billion dollars in FDI to tech startups,

“It will create jobs. The sector is extremely special and unique because of its capacity to unlock opportunities and raise productivity in every sector. If the digital economy is strong, it will catalyse development in every other sector.

“The bill we are here today is a bill that will accelerate the progress in our digital economy. There is no clear legislation that is pushing competition and ensuring development in that digital space.

“Today this bill which we are here to support, our hope is also that it will also be the first bill that would travel across the entire country. We have to ensure we take it to every state. It’s an important bill for all Nigerians and we want to give them the opportunity to give us feedback.

“The bill will support the growth and transformation of Nigeria’s economy through the application and use of the digital economy in all facets of life in Nigeria. it will create the enabling environment for fair competition to promote innovation, growth and competitiveness of the Nigerian economy”, the ministeradded.

Chairman of Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, said the Bill is important as it is the first attempt to put an omnibus legislation to cater to online activities.

This he said would revolutionise the economy and also unleash the full potential of the ICT sector.

“ICT is not just a sector like other sectors. It is a sector that without it other sectors cannot function. This Bill was introduced in the senate less than a week ago. We are engaging the media first because the media is critical to the success bill.

“We don’t want this bill to be misunderstood. We want you to have an understanding of what this Bill seeks to do. This Bill is not about levies, it’s not about commission but creating an environment for the digital economy to thrive and we cannot do that without the partnership of the media”, Senator Salisu said.

He therefore called on Nigerians to hold them accountable for the bill.

Chairman, House Committee on Digital and ICT, Rep. Stanley Olajide, said it is a crucial legislation thst has the potential to transform the Nigeria’s digital economy and position it for sustainable development.

“The bill which has undergone first reading in the National Assembly aims to provide a legal framework for the development and regulation of our digital economy. Furthermore as we gather here today, I want to emphasise our commitment to an inclusive process in the development of this bill.

“It is going to be very inclusive. We recognise the importance of collaboration and stakeholders in ensuring legislation that reflects the needs and aspirations of Nigerians.

“This event marks the beginning of a series of engagements with various stakeholders and the general public.

“It is comprehensive legislation that seeks to establish a regulatory framework for the digital economy for digital literacy and skills development, enhanced cyber security and encourages innovation and entrepreneurship. It has the potential to unlock Nigeria’s digital potential and improve the lives of Nigerians”, he stated.

Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, representated by Ag. Director, Emmanuel Edet, explained that the essence of the bill is to serve as an enabler to ensure that they are able to achieve the goals designed for Nigeria especially under the present government.

He said, “It is to enhance the use of the digital economy in the entire country, especially in government as well as in the private sector. As you may understand, the ecosystem is growing and there is a need for us to harness the potential of this ecosystem in order for us to develop our economic desires based on the advantages we have in terms of population, capacity and other facilities that are available. The Bill basically tries to ensure that digital technologies are accommodated in our day to day lives and experiences.”

News

Sad! Ex-NFF Chairman is dead

Published

8 hours ago

April 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), died on Saturday after a prolonged illness.

His death was confirmed by former Secretary-General of the NFA, Sani Ahmed Toro.

Galadima was a prominent figure in Nigerian sports administration, having led the NFA before it was restructured into the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
He also served as Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council between 1981 and 1983.

Born in 1951 in Fagge, Kano, Galadima had a long-standing career in sports governance.

He was a member of the National Sports Commission and was elected Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee in 1985, a position he held until 1987.

He was later reappointed as Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council and continued to play key roles at both state and national levels.

Galadima also served on the Presidential Monitoring Committee on the development of sports facilities for the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship, which was initially scheduled to be hosted in Nigeria but later relocated due to health-related challenges.

In addition, he was a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Youth Championship Organising Committee.

In 2002, he was elected Chairman of the then Nigeria Football Association, further cementing his legacy as one of the country’s influential sports administrators.
Burial arrangements will be announced later according to family sources.

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11 die, 32 injured in Bauchi tanker crash

Published

8 hours ago

April 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Tragedy struck the Panshanu Hill stretch of the Bauchi-Jos federal highway on Friday evening as a horrific multi-vehicle collision claimed the lives of eleven persons, leaving thirty-two others with life-threatening injuries.

The victims, including women and children, were reportedly burnt beyond recognition when the vehicles involved in the crash erupted into a massive fireball upon impact.

According to a crash report released by the RS12.14
Toro Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps
(FRSC), the accident occurred at approximately 6:40
PM. FRSC personnel, who arrived at the scene within ten minutes of the report, battled to rescue survivors from the mangled, smoking wreckage.

The crash involved a white MAN mini-tanker, identified as part of the Nigerian Police fleet, and a white FIAT J5 Boxer commercial bus with registration number KTU624XY.
Preliminary investigations by the FRSC identified
“dangerous driving” and the use of “worn-out tyres” as the probable causes of the carnage. The impact, which occurred on a single, unpaved carriageway, sent both vehicles off the road and triggered an immediate inferno.

A breakdown of the casualties paints a heart-wrenching picture of the disaster. Out of the 43 persons involved in the accident, 11 fatalities were recorded, comprising one male adult, three male children, five female adults, and two female children.
The 32 injured survivors, including five male children, 19 female adults, seven female children, and one male adult, were rushed to a nearby general hospital for emergency treatment.

The Bauchi State Command of the FRSC has reiterated its warning to motorists to avoid overspeeding and ensure their vehicles are in roadworthy condition, especially when navigating the treacherous bends of the Panshanu Hill.

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JAMB: See How To Check, Print 2026 UTME Result Slip

Published

11 hours ago

April 18, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The 2026 UTME, which began on April 16, is expected to continue until April 22 across examination centres nationwide.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Friday announced that it had released the results of 632,788 candidates who sat for the first day of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

A statement by the JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin noted that the results of candidates who sat the 2026 UTME on Thursday, 16 April 2026, have been released and are now available for viewing.
To check their results, he advised candidates to send UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019 or 66019, using the same phone number (SIM) used during registration.
He, however, said that at this stage, candidates may view their results only; printing is not yet available.
The 2026 UTME, which began on April 16, is expected to continue until April 22 across examination centres nationwide.

How To Print Your Official Result Slip
The result slip carries the candidate’s passport photograph, full scores, and details required for admission processing.
It will be made available for printing on JAMB’s e-Facility portal at efacility.jamb.gov.ng and attracts a fee of N1,500.
Once activated, candidates should follow the steps below.

– Visit efacility.jamb.gov.ng.
– Log in with your registered email address and password.
– On your dashboard, click Print Result Slip.
– Click Continue with Payment and pay the N1,500 fee.

– Select 2026 as the examination year and enter your JAMB registration number.
– Download and print the result slip.

Check Your Score Via SMS
– Make sure you have at least N50 airtime on the phone number linked to your JAMB registration.
– Send UTMERESULT to 55019.
– Your score will be delivered to you via SMS.

Other Tips
– If you have forgotten your password or email address, use the Forgot Password option on the portal or visit a JAMB office with your registration details.
– Keep multiple printed copies of your result slip, as institutions typically request it during screening and admission.
– Use only JAMB’s official websites — efacility.jamb.gov.ng or portal.jamb.gov.ng to avoid scams.

JAMB Cautioned Against Manipulation
Candidates were strongly cautioned against manipulating the SMS received from the official platform (55019/66019) to fabricate or alter scores with the intent to mislead others, including parents.
“Such actions constitute a serious criminal offence. The Board treats such misconduct with the utmost gravity.”
“Currently, two candidates and one parent are in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means. Any candidate found culpable will face the full consequences of the law”, JAMB warned.
The examination is ongoing, and results will continue to be released as they become available.