The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) says Nigeria’s failure to build strong data infrastructure continues to leave out marginalized groups such as women, youth, and people with disabilities, further deepening inequality and underdevelopment.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Y.Z. Ya’u, to mark Development Data Day, the organisation said the country’s data system is weak and uncoordinated, lacking the basic tools for effective data collection, processing, and usage.
“CITAD has consistently flagged the country’s limited access to timely and disaggregated data, noting how it impedes the design of inclusive policies,” Ya’u said. “Our data ecosystem is poor, lacking both the capacity and infrastructure necessary for the timely collection, processing, storage, retrieval, transmission, and use of data.”
According to the organisation, the absence of gender, location, and disability-specific data makes it nearly impossible to address the needs of those often pushed to the margins. Ya’u warned that existing national development plans fail to deliver results because they are not backed by accurate statistics that reflect the reality of all groups.
CITAD also pointed to the widening digital divide as a major concern. Citing a 2022 report by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), it said over 27 million Nigerians across 97 underserved communities lack internet access. “The rising cost of internet and mobile data, particularly after the 2025 NCC tariff hike, threatens to widen this gap even further,” the statement noted.
Since 2016, CITAD has tried to fill some of these gaps through initiatives like its Digital Livelihood Programme, which has trained hundreds of women and girls in digital skills such as data literacy and web design. With support from international partners, the organisation has also set up community networks to bring internet access to places left out by commercial providers.
“Local governments in Bauchi State have already allocated land to CITAD for expanding its rural digital centres,” Ya’u said, adding that community-driven efforts are gaining recognition and could help shape more inclusive national policies.
To address the broader crisis, CITAD presented a list of actions for government and stakeholders: invest in data systems and personnel training; promote open data policies; support grassroots network initiatives; and ensure digital access reaches all corners of society.
“We believe data is not just a technical issue—it is a governance issue, a development issue, and a human rights issue,” Ya’u said.
