Nigeria’s digital economy faces a structural challenge that could undermine its position in the global digital production and employment market, the Chief Executive Officer of Quomodo Systems Africa, Mr. Asalu, has warned.
Although the country has recorded progress in payment identity systems and start-up growth, it still lacks the infrastructure required to build, secure, and export digital value at scale.
“Nigeria’s fintech platforms process billions of transactions annually, and identity frameworks such as the National Identification Number and Bank Verification Number are now embedded in economic life,” Mr. Asalu said.
However, he noted that these developments represent only the initial layer of a mature digital economy, rather than its foundation.
He explained that the deeper layer — where trust, security, and institutional resilience reside — remains insufficiently developed. According to him, Nigeria urgently requires enterprise-grade platforms, robust data governance systems, and comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks to safeguard national infrastructure.
“The cost of this gap is already measurable. Many enterprises continue to shun local digital platforms due to trust and security concerns. Cyber incidents are eroding investor confidence,” he said.
Mr. Asalu added that the cybersecurity deficit also affects the labourmarket. While thousands of young Nigerians complete basic digital training each year, employers continue to report shortages of professionals capable of delivering complex, export-ready digital solutions.
He stressed that cybersecurity must be treated as critical economic infrastructure, without which enterprise-scale digital transformation cannot thrive.
Mr. Asalu also identified Nigeria’s heavy reliance on foreign vendors for sovereignty-critical systems as both an economic drain and a strategic vulnerability. Nevertheless, he believes the country can position itself as a regional hub for secure digital services, given its market size and growing talent pool.
“With millions of cybersecurity roles unfilled worldwide, countries that build credible local capacity can secure their own infrastructure while exporting expertise,” he said.
