The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has expressed concern over the significant number of failed IT projects in Nigeria. According to NITDA, 56% of these projects do not achieve their intended goals due to issues like poor design, lack of interoperability, and inadequate oversight.
NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa made this announcement following visits to key government accountability offices as part of an effort to enforce the agency’s revised IT Project Clearance Guidelines.
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Inuwa stated that many projects fail because of a focus on the latest technology without proper design or consideration for the business value. The revised guidelines aim to address these issues by ensuring proper design, implementation, and quality assurance for all IT projects undertaken by government agencies.
NITDA emphasized the need for a unified approach to government IT services, warning that implementing solutions in silos will continue to result in failures. The new guidelines outline three key phases: Solution Design, Implementation, and Quality Assurance. Contractors will now be required to have certified personnel in these areas to be eligible for government IT projects. These measures are intended to prevent corruption, eliminate duplication, and ensure that government IT initiatives drive meaningful change and promote efficiency in public service.
