The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, says the 10th National Assembly is translating policy understanding into legislative action to position Nigeria for a digital-led future, with a focus on data protection, cybersecurity and expanded broadband access for underserved communities.
Kalu made the disclosure in Abuja while delivering remarks at the official Digital Switchover by the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), a government-owned company that manages the nation’s communications satellite.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising a digital-led growth strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at expanding economic growth and strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
“The National Assembly is translating policy understanding into legislative action. Under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, the 10th House is advancing reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s digital future, including stronger data protection and cybersecurity, incentives to expand affordable broadband to underserved communities, legislation to promote local digital content and skills development, and updated spectrum management policies to ensure efficient use of national digital assets across broadcasting, telecommunications and satellite services,” he stated.
Kalu said the legislative direction aligns with the broader vision of the Tinubu administration, which has placed the digital economy at the centre of Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.
He disclosed that the National Assembly is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, led by Bosun Tijani, to strengthen the legal and institutional framework needed to drive the transformation.
“This includes the development of the National Digital Economy and E-Governance framework to support digital services, cybersecurity and secure data exchange across government, alongside ongoing investments in national fibre-optic expansion and broader connectivity for millions of previously unconnected Nigerians across all geopolitical zones,” Kalu explained.
The Deputy Speaker stressed that the Digital Switchover is not an isolated event but part of a coordinated national effort to build a modern digital economy that benefits all Nigerians.
According to him, achieving digital transformation on such a scale requires collaboration among government, the private sector, academia and development partners, as well as a regulatory environment that encourages innovation while safeguarding the public interest.
“The question before Nigeria is whether we will shape these changes or merely adapt to them; we must choose to lead, not only as consumers of innovation, but as contributors to the technologies that define the future,” he urged.
Kalu highlighted the strategic importance of satellite infrastructure and commended NIGCOMSAT for its role in supporting the technological backbone of the digital transition.
He noted that satellite systems extend connectivity to underserved communities, strengthen national security and support digital access in areas where terrestrial networks remain limited.
The Deputy Speaker also praised the National Broadcasting Commission for driving the Digital Switchover project, describing it as a significant step towards building a fully connected and digitally empowered nation.
He said the true measure of the Digital Switchover would not be its technical success alone but its impact on development, particularly its ability to expand opportunities, reduce inequality and improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“If history records anything from today, it should not only be that Nigeria completed a technological transition. It should also record that Nigeria deepened its commitment to becoming a fully digital nation, where innovation is enabled, talent is empowered and opportunity is broadly shared,” the Deputy Speaker emphasised.
Kalu called on all stakeholders to embrace a shared commitment to innovation and national development, urging Nigerians to move beyond consuming technology to actively contributing to the technologies that will shape the future.
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