The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled a National Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Framework aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s cybersecurity, improving the quality of digital public services, and preventing costly software failures across government institutions and regulated sectors.
The framework, signed by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, under the provisions of the NITDA Act 2007, establishes national standards for the design, testing and deployment of software across the country’s digital ecosystem.
According to the agency, the new framework integrates three key regulatory instruments: the National Software Development Guideline, the National Software Testing Guideline, and the Software Testing Organisations Licensing (STOL) Guideline.
NITDA said the National Software Development Guideline mandates structured software development processes, secure coding practices based on OWASP standards, comprehensive system documentation, and compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards for citizen-facing digital platforms.
It added that the National Software Testing Guideline introduces mandatory pre-deployment testing for software functionality, cybersecurity, performance under heavy usage, and interoperability, while the STOL Guideline provides for the licensing and regulation of independent Software Testing Organisations responsible for certifying software before deployment.
Under the new framework, all government software projects will be required to undergo independent third-party testing and obtain official certification before going live, making compliance a compulsory requirement for securing IT Project Clearance.
To ensure risk-based regulation, NITDA introduced a three-tier software classification system comprising Class A for critical infrastructure and high-risk platforms, Class B for moderate-risk enterprise systems, and Class C for low-risk internal applications.
The agency said high-impact Class A systems, including core banking platforms, identity management infrastructure and power grid control systems, would be subjected to more rigorous security requirements, advanced penetration testing and enhanced oversight by accredited testing organisations.
Speaking on the initiative, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said the framework would strengthen public confidence in digital services while positioning Nigerian software for global competitiveness.
“Quality is the foundation of digital trust. With this Framework, every software solution serving Nigerians, whether built for government or the private sector, will meet clear national standards for security, reliability, and interoperability,” Abdullahi said.
“This is how we modernise government technology and position Nigerian software to compete on the global stage,” he added.
According to NITDA, the framework is expected to deliver multiple benefits, including more reliable and secure digital services for citizens, improved protection of public investments from software failures and cyber threats, and the creation of a regulated software testing industry that will generate skilled jobs and promote indigenous technology development.
The agency also said the initiative would enhance international confidence in Nigerian software products, creating opportunities for local developers to access global markets and attract foreign investment.
Although the framework will become fully operational in the second quarter of 2027, NITDA said it will commence nationwide stakeholder engagements, capacity-building programmes and the accreditation of software testing organisations ahead of implementation.
The agency disclosed that an Expression of Interest (EOI) would soon be issued for technology firms seeking licences as Software Testing Organisations to enable them prepare for compliance under the new regulatory regime.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NITDA.
