Stakeholders Call for Significant Amendments to Nigeria’s Draft E-Commerce Policy and Strategy

Stakeholders Call for Significant Amendments to Nigeria’s Draft E-Commerce Policy and Strategy

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, alongside the National Advisory Committee on Electronic Commerce and Digital Economy (NACEDE), has issued a communique following a three-day stakeholders’ engagement held from August 13 to 15, 2024, at Stratton Hotel, Asokoro, Abuja. 

The event, titled “Formulation and Design of an E-Commerce Policy Capacity Building Workshop,” focused on finalizing the draft National Electronic Commerce Policy and Strategy (NEPS 2023-2027).

The event was organized in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), the workshop brought together representatives from various key organizations, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and major private sector players like JUMIA and MAINONE.

The primary aim of the engagement was to harness stakeholders’ input for the finalization of the NEPS document. The workshop included in-depth presentations on the global and African e-commerce landscape, highlighting the opportunities, challenges, and standards shaping the sector, such as those from ECOWAS, AfCFTA, and the African Union (AU).

A significant resolution reached during the engagement was the proposed extension of the policy timeline to 2029, as well as renaming it to the “National E-Commerce and Digital Trade Policy and Strategy.”

Stakeholders emphasized the need for the private sector to play a central role in the leadership of NACEDE, with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment serving as the focal ministry for e-commerce governance.

Other key recommendations included the establishment of a Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group within the Ministry, the inclusion of marginalized groups such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and the alignment of the policy with the Presidential Renewed Hope Agenda.

Additionally, there was a call for stronger regulatory frameworks to encourage cybersecurity insurance and the development of an online dispute resolution mechanism.

The communique also highlighted the need for an expanded consultation, particularly in Lagos, which accounts for over 65% of Nigeria’s digital trade activity.

A follow-up stakeholder engagement session is scheduled for September 25, 2024, in Lagos to gather further insights.The revised policy will also address key concerns surrounding data protection, privacy, cross-border data transfer, and compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.

The engagement marked a crucial step toward refining Nigeria’s e-commerce landscape, with stakeholders optimistic that the revised strategy will enhance Nigeria’s digital economy and drive sustainable growth in the e-commerce sector.