The Federal Government is to introduce a National Website Design Standards (NWDS) for all government websites as part of efforts to make access to government information and services online seamless and consistent across every platform.

This initiative, driven by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE), in collaboration with the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), aims to create a unified, user-friendly, and accessible online experience for all Nigerian government websites.

Speaking at the stakeholders? workshop in Abuja, Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (MCIDE), Dr. Bosun Tijani said that the standard is expected to build trust in government digital transactions by helping users ensure that these websites are genuine.

He said, ?There is a direct link between how technology is used in government and how much citizens trust their government. If services are hard to access or inconsistent, people lose confidence. What we are doing with NWDS is not just about websites ? it?s about building trust and delivering better services to Nigerians.?

The minister emphasised that standardised, user-friendly platforms can significantly improve public service efficiency, especially for a young and digitally active population, drawing on successful e-governance models in countries such as Finland, Estonia, and Singapore.

Tijani explained that the standard will include features such as the look, feel, font, spacing, and layout, ensuring that when you access it, you know you?re on a government website.

He said, ?The forms that you?re filling out across government platforms should almost look similar, regardless of whether you are filling a form for a passport or a driver?s license, it needs to be seamless. If they have uniformity and conformity, people will really understand that this is a true Nigerian website.

?We believe that technology is one pathway to being able to help people see what?s being done, where you access government platforms. If you have to apply for a student loan, if you have to apply for 3MTT, or you need to apply for support from SMEDAN, how do we ensure that the platforms you find yourself on, you can actually trust that they?re government websites. How do we ensure that they are seamless??

The minister observed that technology is not just a tool that is good to have, but a pathway for raising the level of growth, adding that the website design standards would contain features that every agency within government will have to adhere to.

He noted that technology has become a strong platform and pathway for serving people better over the years.

He said, ?We are extremely fortunate at this time to have a president who is extremely committed to moving things forward in the country, but you know when the level of trust in society is low, it?s difficult for people to actually believe and feel all the work that is being done.?

Tijani stated that Nigeria has one of the largest digital identity systems globally, with over 150 million adults enrolled on the National Identification Numbers (NIN), adding that our interbank settlement system is one of the best in the world, which is why we have world-class funds in the country.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said that the foundation is providing financial support for the project, adding that there is a strong relationship between the government and the private sector in countries that have mastered digital technology and utilised it to serve their people with goods and services.

He noted that digital technology allows people to do things faster, cheaper, and, most importantly, at a high standard.

?When you think about government, you think about many ministries, many departments, and different services, and everybody wants to go out there to provide this solution. But the whole idea of digital technology is that, for instance, you can go into one website, and from that single website, you should be able to access all 50 ministries that are in Nigeria. You should be able to access all the products and services that the Nigerian government has to offer the public,? he said.

On his part, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, explained that the NWDS project is designed to ensure a unified and memorable digital experience across all government platforms.

He emphasised that without a common standard, every government agency builds its website differently, leading to inconsistencies, confusion, and inefficiencies.

He said, ?With standardisation, we can create a repository of reusable components, making it easier for agencies to develop platforms that are citizen-centric and consistent.?

The NITDA DG further revealed that the standard will eventually become mandatory through a structured policy and rule-making process. Assessment tools and incentives will also be introduced to monitor compliance and encourage agencies to align with the new guidelines. (The Guardian)

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