👨🏿‍🚀TechCabal Daily – Twiga’s new glam

On May 16, 2025, Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a white paper for its proposed national blockchain policy, promising a more inclusive approach. The announcement quickly drew criticism from industry stakeholders on the X platform.

This is not Nigeria’s first rodeo with a blockchain policy. In 2023, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), under Isa Pantami’s leadership, launched and supposedly implemented a national blockchain policy that has since been swept under the carpet after the committee for that project disbanded.

In the months that followed, Nigeria’s blockchain industry was rudderless. However, the white paper signals that the government, or at least Minister Bosun Tijani, wants to take the long route to collaborate with industry leaders to make things work—just as the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been collaborating with startups to implement digital asset regulations.

Why now? The government wants to do more with blockchain technology. The country’s minister of information has previously said that it wants to use blockchain to boost financial inclusion, improve digital identity, make supply chains more transparent, and drive innovation in governance and electronic transactions.

How does Nigeria compare elsewhere? South Africa and Kenya have already launched blockchain pilots and regulatory sandboxes, while most of Africa is still catching up—or doing nothing yet. This makes Nigeria one of the few countries doing anything about blockchain.

The policy’s big goal is to build public trust. And this time, from builders and those with skin in the game, rather than policy men in kaftans. But the obvious problem is the government’s slow follow-through with regulations and the lack of cohesion among regulators. 

We’ve seen this with the slow rollout of crypto regulations despite promises to make things move faster. Nigerian regulators need to speak and move with one voice. 

The country’s new blockchain policy white paper is mostly consultative, and many want to see action, not just talk. If the government can deliver on its promises, Nigeria could become a true leader in Africa’s digital future. For now, cautious optimism is the mood.