Nigeria has taken a major step towards operationalising its National Regulatory Sandbox, with the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, urging regulatory agencies to strengthen collaboration in building a coordinated framework that supports innovation while safeguarding public interest.
Speaking through the National Coordinator of the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Ms. Victoria Fabunmi, at the National Regulatory Sandbox Governance and Implementation Planning Workshop in Abuja, Inuwa said inter-agency cooperation would be critical to the successful implementation of the initiative, which is designed to provide innovators with a structured environment to safely test emerging technologies under regulatory oversight.
Inuwa described the workshop as a pivotal transition from the design phase of the National Regulatory Sandbox to its implementation stage, where regulators are expected to jointly review, refine and validate the proposed governance framework before its rollout.
According to him, ONDI has spent several months laying the foundation for the initiative through extensive stakeholder consultations, ecosystem mapping, regulatory assessments and the development of a draft governance and implementation framework.
“The work completed so far provides a solid foundation, but the National Regulatory Sandbox can only achieve its objectives through collective ownership by all relevant regulatory institutions,” he said.
The NITDA Director General explained that the Technical Working Group was intentionally established as a collaborative platform to harness the expertise, experience and statutory mandates of participating agencies in designing a regulatory model suited to Nigeria’s evolving innovation ecosystem.
He noted that the workshop was designed to critically assess the proposed governance framework, test its underlying assumptions and integrate practical recommendations from regulators and other stakeholders to ensure the final model is inclusive, effective and adaptable to the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
Inuwa observed that although government institutions have distinct regulatory mandates, those differences should be regarded as complementary strengths capable of supporting the development of a coordinated and flexible framework for regulating emerging technologies.
He added that the engagement would also define clear implementation pathways, strengthen institutional partnerships and identify priority actions required to operationalise the National Regulatory Sandbox.
Expressing confidence in the outcome of the deliberations, Inuwa said the workshop would help forge a shared national vision for the initiative while creating an enabling environment where innovators can safely develop, test and scale new technologies under appropriate regulatory supervision.
He commended participants for their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s digital innovation ecosystem and encouraged them to make meaningful contributions that would shape a practical, innovation-driven regulatory framework capable of supporting sustainable economic growth and enhancing the country’s global competitiveness.
Providing an update on the National Regulatory Sandbox journey and ongoing workstream, Ms. Ojonoka Yusufu of implementing partner Druve said the initiative would establish a coordinated framework through which innovators and regulators can collaborate in testing emerging technologies while ensuring compliance with existing laws and regulatory requirements.
She explained that the workshop was convened to foster a common understanding among participating regulators and stakeholders, build consensus on the Sandbox’s operating model, identify implementation gaps ahead of its rollout and agree on the next steps for successful implementation.
“We do not have anything set in stone yet. The idea is to work together to build a common understanding and ensure that all participating regulators and stakeholders are aligned on the objectives and implementation of the National Regulatory Sandbox,” she said.
Yusufu highlighted the strategic importance of the initiative, noting that Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector remains one of the country’s strongest contributors to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while its vibrant startup ecosystem continues to attract substantial global investment.
She said Nigerian startups are creating jobs, attracting foreign investment and positioning the country as one of Africa’s leading innovation hubs.
According to her, the rapid expansion of startups beyond financial technology into sectors such as healthcare, mobility, agriculture and other industries has made closer regulatory coordination increasingly imperative.
Yusufu further noted that the National Regulatory Sandbox is backed by the Nigeria Startup Act, providing the legal foundation needed to promote responsible innovation and strengthen the country’s regulatory environment.
She described the National Regulatory Sandbox as a collaborative, multi-agency innovation governance mechanism that complements, rather than replaces, the statutory roles of existing regulatory institutions.