Katsina's Digital Public Infrastructure Push: Gaps, Fixes, Safeguards

Katsina State is advancing its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative, mirroring Nigeria's national push towards digital transformation. This subnational adoption is seen as crucial for realizing the full benefits of DPI, which the World Bank defines as foundational, reusable digital platforms designed for public good.

DPI is built upon three core components: digital identity, digital payment, and data exchange. These elements collectively facilitate services across public and private sectors, akin to physical infrastructure like roads. Examples of its impact range from rural farmers receiving subsidies directly on mobile wallets to parents accessing immunization records digitally at clinics, thereby improving efficiency in education, agriculture, revenue collection, social protection, and finance.

Nigeria officially launched its DPI Framework in March 2025, intended to serve as the backbone for its e-Government system. While significant strides have been made in digital identity and payment systems, the country faces challenges with data exchange and interoperability. Salisu Kaka, Director of e-Government and Digital Economy at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), stressed the importance of states aligning with federal DPI standards to achieve a comprehensive national data exchange and drive all-of-government processes.

State-level adoption of DPI is vital for effective local governance, improved planning, and expanded access to public services. A 2025 report indicates that only two states, Akwa Ibom and Oyo, have achieved high DPI maturity, highlighting the varying paces of adoption across Nigeria's 34 states. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum's DPI Readiness Report underscores this by focusing its parameters on states rather than the federal government, recognizing that essential services for Nigerians are often delivered at the state level.

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If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes.