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The Federal Government has intensified its call for Nigerians, businesses and public institutions to prioritise locally developed digital products and services, arguing that greater adoption of indigenous technology will retain economic value within the country, strengthen data sovereignty and accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation.
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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, made the call during a courtesy visit to Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) in Abuja, where he urged public and private sector organisations to support the Federal Government’s “Buy Nigeria, Make Nigeria” initiative by giving greater consideration to indigenous software, hardware and digital infrastructure providers.
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Oyedele said Nigeria must become more deliberate about building and supporting local technology capabilities if it hopes to maximise the opportunities emerging from the global digital economy.
FG Pushes “Buy Nigeria, Make Nigeria” in Technology Sector
The minister said the continued dependence of many Nigerian organisations on foreign technology providers, despite the availability of capable indigenous alternatives, was contributing to the loss of economic value that could otherwise support local businesses, innovation and job creation.
He urged Nigerians and institutions to embrace what he described as a more intentional approach to local technology adoption, including the use of Nigerian-developed software, hardware, cloud services and other digital solutions.
According to him, patronising indigenous technology companies could help keep more of the value generated within Nigeria’s economy while supporting the growth of local innovators and technology enterprises.
He added that local adoption could also strengthen Nigeria’s control over critical digital infrastructure and data.
“Many organisations, particularly in the private sector, still rely heavily on foreign suppliers, despite the availability of capable Nigerian technology providers. Digital infrastructure is critical. As a country, we must be intentional in making that investment,” Oyedele said.
Local Technology Adoption and the Data Sovereignty Imperative
Beyond the economic argument, Oyedele said greater investment in indigenous digital solutions would advance Nigeria’s data sovereignty ambitions.
As governments, businesses and citizens generate increasing volumes of data, the location, management and security of critical national and commercial information are becoming increasingly important policy considerations.
The minister said Nigeria must take deliberate steps to develop the infrastructure and capabilities required to support its growing digital economy.
He noted that the country had little reason not to take advantage of the enormous opportunities presented by technology, innovation and digital services.
The digital economy, he said, remains a key component of the Federal Government’s broader economic growth agenda and will require sustained investment in infrastructure, innovation and indigenous technology.
Government Pledges Support for Galaxy Backbone
Oyedele described the role of Galaxy Backbone as strategic to Nigeria’s digital transformation and assured the organisation of the Ministry of Finance’s support in strengthening its operations and expanding its impact.
He said the work being undertaken by GBB should be regarded as a national responsibility, particularly as government agencies and institutions increasingly depend on secure, resilient and shared digital infrastructure.
The visit also highlighted the growing importance of government-owned digital infrastructure in supporting public sector efficiency, cybersecurity and digital service delivery.
Galaxy Backbone Seeks More Investment in Digital Infrastructure
Earlier, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, called for sustained investment to enable the organisation to expand its fibre network, data centre capacity and cybersecurity capabilities.
Adeyanju said demand for digital services across government and the wider economy was growing rapidly, making additional investment in critical infrastructure increasingly necessary.
He also appealed for stronger private-sector partnerships and supportive policies that would enable GBB to connect more institutions, reduce unnecessary duplication of technology infrastructure and improve public service delivery.
According to him, investments in digital infrastructure have a wider impact on national productivity, innovation and economic development.
“Every Naira invested in digital infrastructure is an investment in productivity, innovation, economic growth and national development,” he said.
Galaxy Backbone’s Role in Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure Ecosystem
Adeyanju described Galaxy Backbone as a critical component of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure ecosystem.
The organisation currently supports government institutions through a range of shared digital platforms and infrastructure, including an extensive fibre network, data centres, cybersecurity services and government email systems.
GBB has developed more than 5,000 kilometres of fibre infrastructure, forming part of the backbone supporting connectivity and digital service delivery across government institutions.
The organisation’s infrastructure is designed to support Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) while promoting greater resource sharing and reducing the duplication of digital infrastructure across the public sector.
Keeping More Digital Value Within Nigeria
The renewed government push for indigenous technology adoption comes amid increasing concern about the amount of economic value generated by Nigeria’s growing digital economy that ultimately flows to foreign technology companies and infrastructure providers.
While Nigerian developers, entrepreneurs and technology professionals continue to create innovative solutions, a significant share of spending on software, cloud infrastructure, digital platforms and technology services still goes to foreign suppliers.
The Federal Government’s emerging policy direction is therefore aimed at creating stronger demand for locally developed and locally supported technology solutions.
Officials believe that increased patronage of Nigerian technology companies could stimulate innovation, strengthen domestic intellectual property development, create employment and help build more globally competitive technology businesses.
The push also aligns with broader government efforts to expand fibre connectivity, strengthen local data centre infrastructure and encourage greater participation of indigenous companies in public sector technology procurement.
Nigeria First Policy Could Boost Indigenous Tech Companies
The growing emphasis on Made-in-Nigeria technology is also expected to complement the Federal Government’s broader Nigeria First Policy, which seeks to prioritise domestic capacity and local value creation.
For the technology sector, such an approach could create new opportunities for indigenous software developers, hardware providers, data centre operators, cybersecurity companies and other digital service providers.
However, industry stakeholders are likely to expect the policy direction to be supported by practical measures, including transparent procurement processes, investment incentives, improved access to funding and stronger collaboration between government and the private sector.
For indigenous technology companies, government patronage could provide an important market opportunity and help them scale their products and services.
From Digital Consumption to Digital Production
Nigeria’s growing population and expanding internet economy have made the country one of Africa’s most important digital markets.
The next challenge, however, is ensuring that Nigeria does not remain primarily a consumer of technology developed elsewhere.
The Federal Government’s call for increased adoption of indigenous digital products reflects a broader ambition to shift Nigeria towards becoming a stronger producer of technology, digital infrastructure and intellectual property.
For that transition to succeed, experts say local companies will require more than patriotic patronage. They will need access to capital, reliable infrastructure, skilled talent, supportive regulation and opportunities to compete for major public and private sector contracts.
As Nigeria pursues its wider digital transformation agenda, the success of the “Buy Nigeria, Make Nigeria” initiative may ultimately depend on how effectively policy support is translated into sustainable demand for locally developed technology.
The message from the Federal Government is increasingly clear: Nigeria’s digital future should not only be about connecting more people to technology, but also about ensuring that more of the economic value created by that technology remains within Nigeria.
