NITDA Unveils Guidelines to Improve Software Quality, Cybersecurity
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NITDA Unveils Guidelines to Improve Software Quality, Cybersecurity
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, has launched a National Software Quality Assurance Framework aimed at improving the quality, security and reliability of software deployed across government institutions and regulated sectors.
The framework, unveiled on Tuesday, introduces mandatory standards for software development, testing and deployment as part of efforts to curb costly IT failures, strengthen cybersecurity and boost public confidence in digital public services.
According to a statement signed by the agency’s Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Hadiza Umar, the framework was approved by the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, under the provisions of the NITDA Act 2007.
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The statement said the new regulatory framework comprises three key instruments: the National Software Development Guideline, the National Software Testing Guideline and the Software Testing Organisations Licensing Guideline.
It explained that the National Software Development Guideline mandates structured software development lifecycles, secure coding practices, standardised documentation and compliance with global accessibility standards for citizen-facing digital services.
The National Software Testing Guideline, it added, establishes benchmarks for functionality, cybersecurity, performance and interoperability testing before software deployment, while the Software Testing Organisations Licensing Guideline provides for the accreditation and regulation of independent software testing organisations responsible for evaluating and certifying software solutions.
Under the framework, all Federal Government software projects will be required to undergo independent third-party testing and obtain official certification before deployment, making compliance a prerequisite for securing IT Project Clearance.
To ensure risk-based regulation, NITDA said software applications would be classified into three categories based on their operational significance.
It said Class A applications, including core banking platforms, identity management systems and power grid control systems, would be subjected to the highest level of security assessments, penetration testing and specialised audits by accredited testing organisations.
Class B would cover enterprise platforms with moderate operational risks, while Class C would apply to low-risk internal software tools.
The agency said the framework would improve the reliability of digital services, protect government investments from software failures and cyber threats, while creating a regulated market for independent software testing in Nigeria.
It added that the initiative would stimulate indigenous technology innovation, create employment opportunities for software engineers and strengthen the global competitiveness of locally developed software.
Speaking on the development, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, said the framework represented a major step towards building trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
He said, “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.
“This is how we modernise government technology and position Nigerian software to compete on the global stage.”
The agency disclosed that the framework would take full effect in the second quarter of 2027.
It added that stakeholder engagements, capacity-building programmes and the accreditation of software testing organisations would commence before implementation, while an Expression of Interest would soon be issued to firms seeking licensing as independent software testing organisations.
