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Nigerian Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, said on Tuesday that the Federal Government would collaborate with the European Union Commission (EUC) on the establishment of the Digital Single Market in Africa. The Minister made the statement during a meeting with officials of the EUC and commended the Commission for choosing Nigeria as its first port of call in advancing discussions on the European Union's ICT policy for Africa.

The EU believes ICTs offer Africa tremendous opportunities to leapfrog into the future. Its ICT policy priorities for Africa entail harmonisation of policies and regulatory frameworks between the EU and Africa; the interconnection of research institutions and infrastructures of the respective regions; and support of ICT capacity building in Africa.

The EU Vice President/Commissioner on Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, said the EU had earmarked Nigeria as the pillar of its DSM in Africa, hence their visit. Highlighting the benefits of the partnership, Ansip said the DSM would improve access to digital goods and services, enhance digital networks, foster an equal-opportunity market arena for business, create much-needed jobs, among other benefits. Ansip explained that Nigeria is now strategically positioned to benefit from global trade through the export of ICT.

The Minister of Communications noted that the collaboration was crucial at a time when the ministry is embarking on implementing its ICT strategic roadmap, e-Government and Mobile Broadband Plan. He also said the initiative would be beneficial to economic diversification by leveraging ICT.

Shittu also reportedly directed a committee be set up consisting of the ministry’s agencies and the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) on the new DSM paradigm ahead of the EU/Africa summit slated for November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.