The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has disclosed that over half 56 percent of IT projects undertaken by Federal Public Institutions (FPIs) in Nigeria, have failed to meet their objectives. The agency attributes this high failure rate primarily to poor compliance with its IT Project Clearance Guidelines and inadequate project design and coordination.
NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, made the revelation during recent engagements with key government oversight bodies, including the Accountant General of the Federation, the Auditor General of the Federation, and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). He emphasized that many Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) initiate IT projects without proper clearance or alignment with the national digital economy priorities, leading to fragmented and inefficient systems that waste public funds.
“These projects fail because they are not cleared to ensure alignment with national standards and priorities. We must stop wasting public funds on fragmented, uncoordinated IT systems that don’t deliver value,” Inuwa stated.
The Director-General highlighted that a common pitfall is the rush to adopt the latest technology without adequate planning or consideration of the business value the projects are supposed to deliver. He warned that continued siloed implementation will prevent systems from working together effectively, undermining Nigeria’s goal of a unified, digitized government service.
To address these challenges, NITDA has revised its IT Project Clearance Guidance Document, which sets out a structured framework covering solution design, implementation, and quality assurance. The updated guidelines require contractors to have certified personnel across these phases before being awarded government IT contracts. This move aims to enhance transparency, reduce duplication, and curb corruption in IT procurement.
Supporting these efforts, the BPP’s Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, acknowledged widespread abuses in IT procurement, noting that some MDAs use intangible IT projects as a cover to siphon public funds. He called for standardized bidding documents and closer collaboration with NITDA to ensure accountability and cost efficiency.
The Auditor General of the Federation also pledged to assess how the IT clearance process impacts government efficiency and the economy, while the Accountant-General committed to integrating the clearance framework into financial processes.
