National regulatory sandbox to drive responsible innovation, regulatory coordination 

Omeiza Bilal

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for stronger collaboration among government regulators to accelerate the establishment of Nigeria’s National Regulatory Sandbox, describing inter-agency cooperation as the cornerstone for building an innovation-friendly regulatory ecosystem. 

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 the success of the initiative depends on regulators working collectively to develop a framework that promotes technological innovation while preserving regulatory integrity and public trust. 

He noted that the workshop marks a significant transition from the design phase of the project to its implementation stage, where regulators are expected to jointly refine and validate the proposed governance structure 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 preparation 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 deliberately established as a collaborative platform to harness the expertise, experience and statutory mandates of participating agencies in shaping a regulatory model tailored to Nigeria’s innovation landscape. 

He said the workshop was designed to critically review the proposed governance framework, test its assumptions and incorporate practical recommendations from stakeholders to ensure that the final model is inclusive, effective and adaptable to the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy. 

Inuwa observed that while government institutions have different regulatory responsibilities, those differences should be viewed as strengths that can support the development of a coordinated and flexible implementation framework capable of responding to emerging technologies. 

He further stated that the engagement would also establish clear implementation pathways, strengthen institutional partnerships and identify priority actions required to operationalise the National Regulatory Sandbox. 

Expressing optimism about the outcome of the deliberations, the NITDA boss said the workshop would help build 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. 

Speaking on the National Regulatory Sandbox journey and current worksream, Ms Ojonoka Yusufu, Implementing Partner Druve, said the initiative would provide a coordinated framework through which innovators and regulators can work together to test emerging technologies while ensuring compliance with existing laws and regulations. 

She explained that the workshop was convened to build a shared understanding among participating regulators and stakeholders, develop consensus on the Sandbox’s operating model, identify implementation gaps before rollout and agree on the next steps for its 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. 

Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Yusufu noted that Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector remains one of the country’s highest contributors to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while the nation’s startup ecosystem continues to attract significant global investment. 

She observed that Nigerian startups are creating jobs, attracting foreign investment and positioning the country as a leading innovation destination in Africa. According to her, the rapid expansion of startups beyond traditional sectors such as financial technology into healthcare, mobility, agriculture and other industries has made closer regulatory coordination increasingly necessary. 

Yusufu added that the National Regulatory Sandbox is backed by the Nigeria Startup Act, providing the legal foundation required to drive responsible innovation and improve the country’s regulatory environment. 

She described the Sandbox as a collaborative, multi-agency innovation governance mechanism that complements, rather than replaces, existing regulatory institutions.