NITDA, BOF Inaugurate Joint Committee to Drive National Sovereign Cloud Initiative
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) have inaugurated the Joint Technical Committee of the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative (JTC-NSCI), marking a significant step towards strengthening Nigeria’s digital sovereignty and coordinating the implementation of the country’s sovereign cloud agenda.
The committee has been mandated to address fiscal, procurement, financing, investment and expenditure issues critical to the successful implementation of the initiative.
It is chaired by the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, with the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, serving as co-chair. Members include representatives of key government institutions responsible for public finance, procurement, investment, connectivity, energy, cybersecurity, data governance and other strategic sectors.
Speaking at the inauguration, Yakubu described the initiative as a critical component of national development, noting that increasing government reliance on digital infrastructure requires a coordinated approach to planning and financing.
He said the committee would ensure that investments in digital infrastructure are strategically prioritised, fiscally sustainable and capable of delivering greater value for public resources.
“Our challenge is to ensure that these investments are properly planned, appropriately prioritised, fiscally sustainable, and capable of delivering greater value from public resources,” Yakubu said.
He explained that the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative would improve government efficiency and resilience by reducing duplication, optimising existing infrastructure and supporting more informed investment decisions.
According to him, government does not necessarily need to own or finance every component of the country’s digital infrastructure, stressing the importance of leveraging private-sector capital, competitive markets and long-term demand to complement public investment.
Yakubu noted that the implementation of a sovereign cloud ecosystem extends beyond technology, requiring coordinated action across public finance, budgeting, procurement, investment, power supply, connectivity, cybersecurity, data governance and regulation.
“Sovereign cloud implementation is not solely a technology matter. It cuts across public finance, budgeting, procurement, investment, power connectivity, cybersecurity, data governance and central regulation. No single institution can address these issues in isolation,” he said.
He added that the committee’s success would be measured by practical outcomes, including improved utilisation of existing assets, reduced duplication, stronger infrastructure resilience, better value for public expenditure and increased private-sector investment.
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Also speaking, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa described the inauguration of the committee as a defining moment in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.
He warned that excessive dependence on foreign-owned digital infrastructure could leave the country’s digital future in the hands of external entities.
“This Joint Technical Committee of the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative is a defining step for Nigeria’s digital future. The level of interest the initiative has attracted since the underlying regulatory instrument was issued has been remarkable,” Inuwa said.
He noted that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is increasingly driven by digital infrastructure, cloud computing and connectivity, making digital self-determination essential for national development.
“As a nation, we should determine our digital future. We should have control over our data. We should have control over our algorithms, our AI, and all our transactions,” he said.
Inuwa disclosed that NITDA was working to certify cloud service providers and infrastructure operators that meet Nigeria’s sovereign cloud standards, as well as system integrators that would support government institutions and financial organisations in migrating their operations to secure cloud platforms.
He added that the initiative would promote a cloud-first approach across government, helping ministries, departments and agencies reduce operational costs and eliminate the burden of maintaining multiple independent data centres.
According to him, the committee would also harmonise regulatory requirements across relevant institutions while creating an enabling environment for increased private-sector investment in Nigeria’s cloud infrastructure ecosystem.
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, described the initiative as a major step towards ensuring value for money in public spending.
He said the sovereign cloud initiative aligns with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act and pledged the Bureau’s support in strengthening compliance while fostering investment and innovation within Nigeria’s cloud industry.
“Our competitors are not sleeping. Nigeria cannot sleep. It is time for us to use our collective understanding, partnership and collaboration to secure our nation digitally,” Adedokun said.
He added that the initiative would play a critical role in maximising scarce public resources while enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
The inauguration of the Joint Technical Committee underscores the Federal Government’s determination to coordinate the implementation of the National Sovereign Cloud Initiative through stronger collaboration among institutions responsible for fiscal management, infrastructure, cybersecurity, regulation and investment.
The committee is expected to serve as an inter-agency platform for reviewing government ICT and cloud expenditure, assessing total cost of ownership, optimising existing infrastructure, aligning budgets and procurement processes, mobilising investment and evaluating the broader fiscal implications of cloud adoption in Nigeria.
By PRNigeria
