The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Abdullahi, has said that technology remains a vital tool in tackling corruption and inefficiency in government operations.
Abdullahi stated this in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by the Assistant Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships at NITDA, Dr Olufemi Adeluyi, at the just concluded ITGov 2025 conference in Abuja.
The conference, themed ‘Advancing Government Operations Through Digital Transformation,’ brought together stakeholders from government and the technology sector to discuss reforms in governance through digital tools.
The NITDA DG said digital platforms, if properly deployed, could significantly reduce fraud in the public sector by creating systems that are transparent and difficult to manipulate.
“Digital platforms leave audit trails. They are hard to manipulate. E-procurement, e-payment, and blockchain-based land registries can significantly reduce fraud and corruption,” he said.
He noted that digitising government processes would not only increase transparency but also reduce waste and improve service delivery. “Technology is not just a tool — it is a weapon against inefficiency and injustice,” he added.
Quoting a report by the World Bank, Abdullahi said countries that digitise procurement save an average of 20 per cent in public spending, stressing the need for Nigeria to key into such practices.
He explained that under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA has worked with various ministries, departments and agencies to develop and implement Digital Transformation Plans aimed at automation, cloud adoption, and data-driven service delivery.
Abdullahi also emphasised the importance of digital inclusion, stating that digital transformation must prioritise access and connectivity across all segments of society.
“Digital government bridges the gap between rural and urban, young and old, rich and poor. With over 122 million Nigerians online and mobile penetration at over 90 per cent, we must meet citizens where they are: online, mobile, and on-demand,” he said.
He further called for increased investment in digital infrastructure, capacity building for public servants, inter-agency collaboration, and cybersecurity to ensure the sustainability of digital governance.
The NITDA DG urged government agencies to embrace digital reforms and work towards a system that is responsive, transparent, and inclusive, stating that the future of governance in Nigeria depends on how quickly digital transformation is embraced.
Also speaking at the event, the Country Manager for Nigeria and Regional Head of West African operations for ManageEngine, Srinivasan Rajasekar, said the company provides over 60 enterprise solutions designed to automate and manage complex IT infrastructures.
Rajasekar explained that ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation, offers tools covering enterprise service management, unified endpoint management, and network monitoring.
He noted that the company has been operating in Nigeria for more than 20 years and has established a strong presence in both the public and private sectors.
He added that their solutions are available in hybrid formats, offering both on-premises and cloud-based deployment options through their local partner, Tranter IT.
The Group Executive Director at Tranter IT, Melanie Ayoola, said IT automation solutions like ManageEngine are essential to improving productivity and service delivery across government institutions.
Ayoola noted that over 50 per cent of Nigeria’s largest enterprises already use ManageEngine to manage help desk operations, resolve IT issues, and maintain endpoint security.
She explained that in large government organisations, unresolved IT incidents could slow down public services and reduce overall workforce efficiency.
Ayoola added that with over 160 MDAs in attendance, the company is targeting a 30 per cent increase in government adoption of IT automation solutions by the end of the year.
