Deploying scalable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Nigeria: An Institutional Theory Perspective

In recent years, the G20 countries are adopting the concept of digital public infrastructure (DPI) as digital transformation strategy towards sustainability of the future. Interestingly, there is currently no policy framework in Nigeria to address how the DPI concept can be adopted across jurisdiction to achieve the desired scalability and interoperability for public interest. This paper provides evidence-based insights for policy recommendation on scalable DPI deployment in Nigeria. The study adopts a qualitative approach that draws insights from existing literature backed by feedbacks from experts’ interviews with key stakeholders in Nigeria. Through the analysis, a number of DPI implications were identified and summarized as synthesis of the results presenting 6 aspects of the expected implications and the requirements. The findings also identified a number of institutional factors that can positively or negatively influence scalability of DPI deployment in Nigeria. Further, the paper provides a new perspective on deploying scalable DPI from the standpoint of institutional theory thus bringing new insights into the ongoing debate on DPI adoption and deployment globally.