The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced that the federal government is set to eliminate the burden of repeated data submissions by Nigerians through the rollout of the Nigerian Data Exchange Platform (NGDX).
For years, citizens have endured the stress of submitting the same personal information and biometrics across multiple government agencies — from NIN registration to driver’s license, Bank Verification Number (BVN), SIM card registration, and international passport applications. The duplication of these processes has not only wasted time but also cost money and created inefficiencies that slowed public service delivery.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop on the NGDX in Abuja on Monday, NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, said the NGDX will serve as a unified and secure data exchange system for government institutions.
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According to him, this means citizens will no longer need to repeatedly hand over the same personal data each time they interact with an MDA. Instead, authorized agencies will be able to verify and share records on the back end seamlessly.
This reform is expected to save Nigerians time and money while also reducing inefficiencies within the public sector.
Businesses, especially fintechs and service providers that rely heavily on identity verification, also stand to benefit. Faster KYC (Know Your Customer) processes and easier access to government-backed data verification systems could streamline operations for banks, digital lenders, and other service providers.
Inuwa added that the NGDX will go beyond convenience. It will create opportunities for startups and enterprises to innovate in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, fintech, and education technology by enabling the use of anonymized public data.
“The NGDX will open opportunities for innovation, allowing startups and enterprises to build solutions leveraging anonymized public data for improved healthcare delivery, agricultural productivity, fintech development, and education technology,” he said.
He described the NGDX as “essential digital infrastructure” comparable to the nationwide fiber optic rollout, stressing that it is a critical piece of Nigeria’s digital economy. He also assured participants that NITDA is working with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, along with other key stakeholders, to ensure its successful rollout.
The Nigeria Data Exchange Platform initiative is backed by the European Union (EU) in Nigeria under its Global Gateway project. Describing the NGDX as a bold step to strengthen Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure, the EU, in a post on its official X handle, said several partners from the EU — including Finland, Estonia, Germany, and France — were part of the Abuja workshop.
The launch of the NGDX comes against the backdrop of longstanding public frustration with overlapping identity systems. In the past, Nigerians were compelled to register separately for the National Identity Number (NIN), BVN, SIM card registration, voter cards, and passports — each requiring fresh biometrics and multiple in-person visits. The duplication was often described as a symbol of government inefficiency and a barrier to building a truly digital economy.
Experts have long argued that harmonization of data was necessary to boost service delivery and reduce fraud. In some cases, Nigerians who already had NIN and BVN were still forced to repeat biometrics during SIM registration, exposing citizens to unnecessary inconvenience.
Comparative context
Nigeria’s move mirrors a growing global trend where governments are investing in national data exchange and interoperability systems to drive efficiency. Countries like Estonia have become global leaders in digital public infrastructure by implementing e-Governance platforms where citizens only provide personal data once — a system widely hailed as a benchmark.
By adopting the NGDX, Nigeria is attempting to follow this path, while also aligning itself with the EU-backed push for global interoperability in digital governance.
If successful, Nigeria’s initiative could not only eliminate one of the most frustrating aspects of public service delivery but also set the stage for a digital transformation that would allow businesses and government institutions to operate with greater speed, transparency, and efficiency.
However, there is concern about data privacy, following an increase in sales and misuse of private data held by MDAs in recent times.