Buhari Directs Immediate Implementation Of ICT Master Plan Across MDAs

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed Ministries, Departments
and Agencies to comply with ongoing transition of all government
operations to digital platforms that will enhance efficiency and
effectiveness in service delivery, and promote more inter-agency
synergy.

The president gave the directive at the opening ceremony of the
e-NIGERIA 2019 Conference on the Nigerian Digital Economy held at
the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja, on Thursday.

Mr Buhari said the transition to digital economy was no longer
optional for the MDAs, but “an absolute necessity,’’ following the
launch of the e-government master plan, which would drive and guide
the process.

He noted that a directive in 2018 that all government funded ICT
projects must be reviewed and cleared by National Information
Technology Development Agency, NITDA, saved the country over N16.8
billion.

“Our recent introduction of the Nigerian E-government Masterplan
will further consolidate our successes to date and increase
interoperability among the different Ministries, Departments and
Agencies of government.

“A key requirement of the e-government Master plan is for all
government institutions to create a Digital Transformation
Technical Working Group that will work with the Ministry of
Communications and Digital Economy to ensure seamless and
coordinated implementation of projects, programs and policies.

“Furthermore, the Nigerian e-Government Interoperability
Framework, the Enterprise Architecture and the Nigeria Data
Protection Regulation are in place and all Ministries, Departments
and Agencies are expected to comply with these policies,’’ he
said.

Mr Buhari said that the digitisation of key operations in public
service such as the use of the Bank Verification Number, BVN,
Treasury Single Account, TSA, and the Integrated Payroll and
Personnel Information System, IPPIS, had enabled the government to
save cost and fight corruption.

The President said the Federal Ministry of Communications and
Digital Economy would develop training and sensitisation
programmes, which will be rolled out across all key MDAs with
immediate effect to ensure seamless implementation of the master
plan.

Buhari pointed out that the push for more job creation and
diversification of the economy received a boost in the second
quarter of this year with the ICT sector contributing 13.85 per
cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), quoting figures from the
National Bureau of Statistics for 2019.

He said: “This clearly shows the importance and potential of the
ICT sector to our job creation and economic diversification
agenda.

“Already, Nigerian ICT startups are leaving their mark on the
global stage. For example, at the Gulf Information Technology
Exhibition (GITEX), a Nigerian Artificial Intelligence solution
provider, Chiniki Guards, took first place, beating 750 contestants
from 73 countries.

“We shall continue to encourage and support such digital
entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions for local and global
challenges.’’

He said the Federal Ministry of Communications was re-designated
Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to refocus
on the emerging value of digitalisation all over the world with a
mandate to develop and implement a harmonised and well-coordinated
digital economy policy and strategy for Nigeria.

Mr Buhari, however, warned: “Of course, as we celebrate the
successes and explore the opportunities in this sector, we must
remain mindful of its threats.

“We all know how the use of unregistered and improperly
registered SIM cards by terrorists is a key national security
threat.

“Today, I am informed that over 9.2 million SIM cards have
either been normalised, blocked or deactivated in less than 40 days
due to improper registration.

“We encourage all Nigerians to ensure that their phones are
properly registered. As a Government, our priority is to protect
the lives and properties of all Nigerians.’’ NAN