Digital Public Infrastructures have consistently played a crucial role in the growth and development of countries globally. In this report, CHIKA OKEKE writes on the need for enhanced security especially at the grassroots.
The World Economic Forum had submitted that Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) would contribute immensely in attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This also played out at the September 2023, G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration in India. The declaration highlighted DPIs as a set of shared digital systems that are secure and interoperable, built on open technologies, to deliver equitable access to public or private services at a societal scale.
But the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030 was packaged to use digital technologies to bolster economic growth, create jobs, enhance government services, and improve the overall well-being of Nigerians.
The comprehensive roadmap was developed by Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. It was launched by former President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2019, having recognised the potential of digital technologies to drive economic growth and lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
News Rider reports that DPI is the digital network that provides Nigerians with social services and targeted at improved service delivery in the digital space.
Further findings revealed that NDEPS rests on eight pillars such as Development Regulations; Digital Literacy; Skill Development; Solid Infrastructure; Service Infrastructure; Soft Infrastructure; Digital Societies and Emerging Technologies, as well as Indigenous Development.
Four years down the line, Nigerians are apprehensive on the intricacies surrounding DPIs.
Given the fluctuating services attributed to internet service providers and telecommunication network providers, Nigerians are contending with loss of vital documents online as hackers feast on valuable and personal information.
Through this process, many have lost billions of naira in their bank accounts despite not disclosing their ATM card details to anybody.
ATM card is a dedicated payment card issued by a financial institution, which enables a customer to access their financial accounts through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). In some countries like Nigeria, the cards are used for payment of retail transactions at superstores and online.
However, the pitfalls linked to DPIs attracted the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Accra Ghana and its Nigeria-based national partner, International Press Center (IPC) Lagos, to host a public forum in April 2024, at the nations capital, Abuja.
The theme of the one-day forum: "The Status of Digital Public Infrastructure in Nigeria: Progress, Challenges & Prospects", presented an opportunity for stakeholders to critically brainstorm on DPIs.
It drew participants from the media, government and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and was supported by Co-Develop, a global non-profit fund accelerating the adoption of safe and inclusive shared DPIs.
More Private Sector Investment
The private sector like development partners, philanthropists and business owners can garner the needed resources for the development of DPIs. The resources could revolve around Public Private Partnership (PPP), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and funding of projects linked to digital infrastructures.
Aside the private sector, the Federal Government could also invest heavily on digital infrastructure, as it would provide job opportunities for the citizens.
To this end, experts called on the Federal Government to increase investment in DPIs especially at the grassroots for enhanced service delivery.
The Director of Digital Economy Development Department, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Engr Salisu Kaka sought for more private sector involvement and investment on digital infrastructure.
Examples of digital infrastructures are Internet broadband, National Identity Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), Artificial Intelligence models, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) and Remita.
He listed the three main concept of DPIs as People, Process and Technologies (PPT), adding that though there are consequences on the innovation, but the government needs to provide more security to guarantee trust.
A Fellow of MFWA, Mr Ameh Ejekwonyilo requested more investment in digital assets that serve as enabler to DPIs like fibre cables, stating that Nigerians should focus more on the challenges associated with the deployment of DPIs for better services.
The DPI Africa Journalism Fellowship Programme was hosted by the MFWA with funding from Co-Develop. It commenced from September to December 2023. Twenty journalists were selected from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Niger, Benin, Togo, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal to participate at the maiden cohort.
Ejekwonyilo, who is a journalist with Premium Times informed that the government should provide the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive in the digital space.
He encouraged the Federal Government to build the needed infrastructure that would enable Nigerians to utilise the benefits associated with the 5G option unveiled by telecommunication providers.
Economic Transformation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) described DPIs as a critical enabler of digital transformation that helps to improve public service delivery. When designed and implemented well, it could assist countries to achieve their national priorities and accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
Also, the President for Global Growth and Opportunities at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rodger Voorhies enjoined the Federal Government to invest more in building the connecting blocks of its DPIs ecosystem in order to open up the space for greater economic opportunities for Nigerians.
At a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum last year in Abuja, Voorhies commended Nigeria’s efforts to establish a robust digital ID and digital payments systems, adding that critical effort is required for the two critical pillars to achieve the desired result for the country.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is leading a global fund-raising campaign for the development of DPI.
But the Programme Director for Media and Good Governance at Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) Ghana, Mrs Abigail Larbi emphasised the importance of building trust in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, as DPI holds immense potential to transform the economy, improve access to education and healthcare, as well as empower the citizens.
MFWA is a regional independent non-governmental organisation with a network of national partner organisations in all 16 countries in West Africa. Its mission is to promote and defend the right to freedom of expression of all persons particularly the media and human rights defenders in West Africa.
Larbi said that the essence of the forum was to assess the current state of Nigeria’s DPIs and Digital Public Goods (DPGs).
She added: "Recent survey reveal that 72 percent of Nigerians believe access to digital services is essential for development. This widespread recognition underscores the urgency of discussions on DPIs and DPGs.
“However, equally important is acknowledging that 68 percent of Nigerians express concerns about online data security. Building trust in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure is paramount."
She highlighted the need to prioritise data privacy and cybersecurity measures so that Nigerians would feel safe and empowered to participate in the digital world.
DPI rests on three enablers such as digital identity, payments, and data exchange. However, DPIs facilitate the verification of digital identity, enables payment across different platforms and through different channels, as well as secures exchange of data.
Programme Manager of IPC, Mrs Stella Nwofia disclosed that with the advantages, challenges, and prospects linked with DPIs and DPGs, Nigerian journalists are pivotal in moulding public perception and influencing policies that would lead to fairer access to vital digital resources nationwide.
"The synergy between DPI, DPGs, and journalism highlights the critical function of technology in elevating voices, promoting transparency and empowering journalists in their vital role as democracy’s sentinels.
"As allies in this mission to create a more interconnected, knowledgeable, and inclusive world, we embrace this chance to share insights, exchange best practices, and establish partnerships that will not only refine the caliber of journalism but also contribute to nurturing a dynamic and robust media landscape," she said.
Nwofia hinted that IPC is proud to collaborate with MFWA, as both organisations jointly examine the role of technology in enhancing media freedom, facilitating access to information, and broadening the horizons of news dissemination.
In a rapidly transforming digital environment, where technology influences every aspect of life, the programme manager praised journalists for consistently advocating for development in the rural areas through investigative and analytical works while highlighting the benefits of DPI and DPGs.
She disclosed that media practitioners possessed the extraordinary ability to elevate public awareness about the transformative impact of DPIs and DPGs, thereby encouraging thoughtful discourse among citizens, decision-makers and various stakeholders.
Media As Pacesetter
It is the duty of the media to ensure that the implementation of DPIs by governments is safe, equitable and inclusive across all sectors of the economy.
But the Associate Professor in Digital Government at the Institute for Innovation and Public Policy, University College of London, Prof David Eaves added:"Journalists must be on the lookout to ensure that in the process of streamlining and consolidating digital governance, governments become efficient and not so powerful that they cannot be held to account by citizens.
"Journalists can do this by asking questions such as; who these systems are being designed for; who is designing it; and who is to be held accountable when things go wrong."
He highlighted the need for journalists to monitor and ensure that in designing and streamlining DPIs, governments in West Africa would not trample on the rights of the less privileged.
The National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Comrade Achike Chude said that the media has consistently played a critical role in the development of nations, noting that the development of Nigeria cannot be complete without emphasis on the media.
He hinted that DPIs is also a platform for social and economic transformation, saying that the role of the media is to stand between the people and the governed.
Chude lamented that African continent and Nigeria remained backward today due to the problems associated with the elites.
Another Fellow of MFWA, Mr Usman Aliyu attested that the fellowship empowered him to grasp the full context of DPIs, stating that Nigeria has significantly improved the deployment of DPIs in the last 10 years.
Aliyu who is also a journalist with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was worried that the greatest pitfall associated with DPIs is the accessibility of the technology in rural areas.
To this end, he tasked the legislators to enact policies that would improve data security and provide an enabling environment for more innovation in the digital space.
Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani
Artificial Intelligence Buzz
The World Economic Forum (WEF) had disclosed that by using responsible design, development and deployment, AI could guarantee clean air and water, promote public health, enhance equity in education, contribute to inclusive governance and unlock new frontiers of innovation to become a driving force for inclusive growth.
The statement followed the design and implementation principles of India’s DPI ecosystem, which highlighted that a thriving, reliable and trustworthy AI ecosystem could be curated.
According to WEF, there is a global consensus that AI holds the potential to trigger deep-seated transformations in society.
A representative of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Sulaiman Mande harped on the need for the government to guarantee the privacy and security of the citizens demanding access to public information.
Mande maintained that the threat of Artificial Intelligence (AI) taking up employment reserved for humans is one of the challenges in the digital space, just as he noted that it is the responsibility of the media to stand up to the challenges.
Senior Partnership Manager at AfriLabs, Felista Aku stated that the Federal Government has recorded giant strides in digital identity and payments, hoping that more inputs would be made on digital exchange.
She advocated for collaboration between the stakeholders in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) so as to move DPIs forward in Nigeria.
Residents' Reaction
Despite the inherent benefits of DPIs, Nigerians at the grassroots are challenged in the areas of enhanced service delivery, security and modus operandi of DPIs.
The Director-General of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Abisoye Coker-Odusote had during the fifth celebration of Identity Day in Abuja last year, stated that more than 100 million people currently have a National Identification Number (NIN).
Irrespective of her intention to ease enrolment for the digital ID, residents especially in the rural areas are currently having a rough battle in obtaining the digital NIN. This may likely hinder the country's target of achieving financial inclusion, which is part of the SDGs.
A resident of Nyanya in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Mrs Evelyn Idowu (not real name) wondered why NIMC would resort to digital NIN when Nigeria is still battling with network issues from service providers.
She said that it took her three months to obtain the digital NIN after moving back and forth at NIMC FCT office at Zone 3 Abuja.
Narrating her experience, she said that she enrolled for correction of date of birth in February 2024 but collected the digital NIN in May 2024.
On why the delay, she added: "The number of persons seeking for NIMC services were outrageous. After the payment, I was captured and given a tracking ID. I was also informed to check back on February ending.
"When I got to NIMC office at the end of February, i was told that the DG of NIMC directed that all pending applications should be suspended until they clear all backlog of application for JAMB students. I was also informed to check back by the end of March.
"Since March ending, first and second weeks of April were public holidays, I decided to return back on the third week of April. When I got to the office, one of the staff checked my application and directed me to another staff that sorted out the application. He told me to check back at the end of April.
"When I returned at the end of April, I was informed that my application was being processed that I should returned back in two weeks. I returned in two weeks, being in May, to pick my digital ID only to discover that the same error that I paid to be corrected was returned back to me.
"At that point in time, I became more frustrated. While waiting for the staff to correct the errors, there was power failure and the computer was shutdown. I waited for additional two hours before the staff put on their generator. He was able to sort out the problem and i was told to check back in four days time.
"When I returned back in four days time, I collected my digital NIN. I was happy and sad at the same time because I spent lots of money on transportation."
Idowu pleaded with the Federal Government to address the hiccups associated with enrolment and change of data to ease the plight of women at the Satellite towns.
Idowu's predicament is synonymous with over 150 applicants that troop NIMC office daily for data modification.
The delays could be avoided if the Federal Government should channel more investment on DPI since it boosts Nigeria’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Another applicant residing in Lugbe, who spoke on condition of anonymity shared similar experience with Idowu.
He noted that he applied for correction of date of birth two years ago and after back and forth for some month, he collected the new digital NIN.
The applicant was worried that each time he wanted to renew his passport at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) office, the old date of birth will still reflect in Immigration server instead of the current one.
He appealed to the Federal Government to end tortuous journey towards obtaining the NIN and other online transactions by fixing the DPIs.
Federal Government's Stance
As part of plans to foster inclusive development and promote access to DPIs in government, the Federal Government launched Project 774 LG Connectivity.
The project will leverage the existing infrastructure of the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NigComSat) and Galaxy Backbone to provide connectivity in all the 774 Local Government Secretariats across Nigeria.
It is expected to create at least 300 direct jobs nationwide and potentially more indirect jobs from the increase in digital access, according to the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani.
The project also aligned with the ministry's strategic blueprint and a significant step in achieving President Bola Tinubu's mandate to deliver efficient public service to the citizens at the Local Government level.
In addition to project 774 LG Connectivity, the ministry is in active collaboration with technologists and tech enthusiasts within the Nigerian public sector, which led to the introduction of ‘DevsinGovernment’.
The ‘DevsinGovernment’ is a digital public infrastructure instituted by the Federal Government to drive and accelerate technology and digital transformation within the public service sector of the country.
It will also provide a platform for professionals in the civil service to be drivers of the technology in the 21st century, as they go through different stages of learning in order to create a transformative public service that would lead to a prosperous Nigeria.
The experts are expected to help champion the DPI initiative, aimed at transforming public services, while improving the use of technology in the civil service.
Already, the ministry has concluded plans to train 10, 000 civil servants on effective data management.
The course is expected to equip public servants on the fundamentals of ethical data management that bridged the theoretical aspects of the Nigerian Data Protection Act, 2003.
However, for digital resources to complement and fast-track services, there is a need for the Federal Government to not only invest in DPGs but also provide sufficient security that would safeguard vital information disseminated through various online platforms.
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