Technology Vital In Tackling Corruption In Govt – NITDA

Technology remains a vital tool in tackling the malaise of corruption in the country. Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Abdullahi, has said.

According to him, this would help to restore inefficiency in government operations.

Delivering a keynote address at the just concluded ITGov 2025 conference in Abuja, he said digital platforms, if properly deployed, could significantly reduce fraud in the public sector

The conference, themed ‘Advancing Government Operations Through Digital Transformation,’ brought together stakeholders from government and the technology sector to discuss reforms in governance through digital tools.

Abdullahi, who was represented by the Assistant Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships at NITDA, Dr Olufemi Adeluyi added that digital platforms, if properly deployed, could significantly reduce fraud in the public sector by creating systems that are transparent and difficult to manipulate.

“Digital platforms leave audit trails. They are hard to manipulate. E-procurement, e-payment, and blockchain-based land registries can significantly reduce fraud and corruption,” he said.

Stating that technology is not just a tool, but a weapon against inefficiency and injustice, he added that digitising government processes would not only increase transparency but also reduce waste and improve service delivery.

He referred to a report by the World Bank, submitting that countries that digitise procurement save an average of 20 per cent in public spending.

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NITDA, the DG added, has worked with various ministries, departments and agencies to develop and implement Digital Transformation Plans aimed at automation, cloud adoption, and data-driven service delivery.

This Abdullahi said was under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, even as he emphasised the importance of digital inclusion and the need to prioritise digital  transformation access and connectivity across all segments of society.

“Digital government bridges the gap between rural and urban, young and old, rich and poor. With over 122 million Nigerians online and mobile penetration at over 90 per cent, we must meet citizens where they are: online, mobile, and on-demand,” he said.