Nigeria’s National Blockchain Policy Document: A Summary

9 min readMay 23, 2023

Last week, Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council approved the National Blockchain Adoption Policy, and I’m thrilled to share that I was personally involved in the early drafting of the document dating back to 2020–2021. In fact, I played a key role in mobilizing other industry experts to participate in putting together this groundbreaking policy.

Kudos to you all!

Making presentation at the SEC Nigeria HQ in 2018.

For me, this policy is just the latest chapter in my ongoing work to help shape the regulatory landscape for Blockchain and Virtual Assets in Nigeria.

Over the years, I’ve been involved in at least 3 different regulatory committees, including the Fintech Roadmap Committee of the Nigeria Capital Market, the Blockchain and Virtual Assets Regulation Working Group inaugurated by SEC Nigeria, and the National Blockchain Adoption Policy spearheaded by the National Agency for Technology Development, NITDA.

At SEC Nigeria engagement with a cross-section of Nigeria’s Blockchain Industry Participants.

Now, about the policy document proper.

The strategy outlines the benefits and potential risks of blockchain technology and provides a framework for its adoption in Nigeria.

It includes initiatives such as the creation of a Nigeria Blockchain Consortium, regulation, and legal frameworks, a national digital identity framework, and blockchain business incentives. The strategy is aligned with various policies and regulations in Nigeria related to the digital economy, IT, e-government, cloud, broadband, and data protection.

Why is a National Blockchain Policy and Strategy document very important for adoption in a given country?

A National Blockchain Policy and Strategy document is of utmost importance for adoption in a given country for several reasons:

Clear Regulatory Framework: The policy document provides a clear regulatory framework that outlines the rules, guidelines, and standards for the blockchain and crypto industry. This clarity helps businesses and individuals understand their rights, responsibilities, and compliance requirements, fostering a secure and predictable environment for innovation and investment.
Investor Confidence: A robust national policy enhances investor confidence in the blockchain and crypto sectors. It signals that the government recognizes the potential of blockchain technology, acknowledges its importance for economic growth, and is committed to supporting its development. This confidence attracts local and international investors, leading to increased funding opportunities and overall industry growth.
Market Development: The policy document acts as a blueprint for market development, offering strategic directions and goals for the industry. It outlines initiatives to promote blockchain education, research, and development, fostering a skilled workforce and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. By nurturing the market ecosystem, the policy accelerates the adoption of blockchain technology across various sectors.
Consumer Protection: With the rapid growth of the blockchain and crypto industry, consumer protection becomes paramount. The policy document sets guidelines for consumer protection measures, such as ensuring fair practices, addressing fraud and scams, and establishing mechanisms for dispute resolution. This builds trust among consumers, encouraging broader adoption and usage of blockchain-based services.
International Collaboration: A national policy serves as a basis for international collaboration and cooperation. It facilitates discussions with other countries on standardization, interoperability, and regulatory harmonization, ensuring a consistent approach to blockchain adoption. This collaboration opens doors for cross-border projects, partnerships, and knowledge sharing, further advancing the country’s blockchain ecosystem.

With Dr. Usman Abdulahi, Director ICT Infrastructure Solutions NITDA

Are there any opportunities for Banks and other financial services institutions?

Absolutely!

There are several opportunities for banks and other financial services institutions in the blockchain and crypto industry. Here are a few low-hanging fruits that they can explore:

Digital Payments and Remittances: Banks can leverage blockchain technology to offer faster, more secure, and cost-effective digital payment solutions. By integrating blockchain into their systems, they can facilitate near-instantaneous cross-border payments and remittances, reducing transaction fees and settlement times.
Trade Finance and Supply Chain Management: Blockchain can streamline trade finance processes by creating a transparent and tamper-proof ledger for tracking goods, verifying transactions, and managing supply chain data. Banks can provide blockchain-based platforms or services that enable secure and efficient trade financing, reducing fraud risks and enhancing trust among participants.
Identity Verification and Know Your Customer (KYC): Blockchain-based identity verification systems can enhance KYC processes by securely storing and sharing customer identity information. Banks can leverage this technology to simplify and streamline customer onboarding, reducing paperwork, improving efficiency, and strengthening security.
Asset Tokenization: Banks can explore the tokenization of traditional assets such as real estate, bonds, and commodities. By representing these assets as digital tokens on a blockchain, banks can increase liquidity, enable fractional ownership, and open up investment opportunities to a wider range of investors.
Cross-Border Remittances and Correspondent Banking: Blockchain technology can help banks streamline cross-border remittances and correspondent banking relationships. By using blockchain-based settlement systems, banks can reduce intermediaries, minimize transaction costs, and improve transparency and traceability of funds.
Smart Contracts and Automation: Banks can leverage smart contracts on blockchain platforms to automate and streamline various financial processes, such as loan origination, insurance claims, and derivatives contracts. This can lead to faster execution, increased accuracy, and reduced administrative costs.
Regulatory Compliance and Reporting: Blockchain can assist banks in meeting regulatory requirements by providing an immutable and auditable record of transactions. Banks can use blockchain-based systems for regulatory reporting, ensuring transparency, and reducing the compliance burden.

With SEC Nigeria DG, some Commissioners, and a cross-section of Nigeria’s Blockchain Ecosystem Players.

What about Blockchain and Web3 startups? What is the implication of this policy document for them?

the National Blockchain Adoption Policy document can have significant implications and create a favorable environment for their growth. Here are some key implications:

Regulatory Clarity: The policy document provides regulatory clarity, which is crucial for startups operating in the blockchain and Web3 space. It outlines the legal and compliance requirements, helping startups understand the boundaries within which they can innovate and operate. This clarity reduces uncertainty and encourages entrepreneurs to explore innovative business models without fear of regulatory backlash.
Government Support: The policy document reflects the government’s recognition of the potential of blockchain technology and its commitment to supporting its development. This support can come in various forms, such as funding programs, incubators, and accelerators, which can provide startups with the necessary resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to thrive.
Collaboration Opportunities: The policy document may highlight the government’s intention to collaborate with startups and industry stakeholders. This can lead to partnerships between startups and government agencies or participation in public-private initiatives. Such collaborations can open doors to funding, access to networks, and opportunities to contribute to the development of blockchain solutions in various sectors.
Market Adoption: The policy document sets the stage for broader market adoption of blockchain and Web3 solutions. When the government adopts blockchain technology for its own processes or encourages its adoption in specific sectors, it creates a demand and market opportunity for startups. This can lead to increased adoption rates, customer acquisition, and market expansion for blockchain startups.
Investor Confidence: A well-defined national policy can enhance investor confidence in the blockchain and Web3 startup ecosystem. It signals that the government supports and regulates the industry, reducing perceived risks for investors. This confidence can attract more funding, venture capital, and strategic partnerships, enabling startups to scale their operations and drive innovation.
Talent Pool Development: The policy document’s focus on education, research, and development of blockchain technology can lead to the development of a skilled talent pool. Startups can benefit from this by accessing a pool of professionals with blockchain expertise, making it easier to recruit and build competent teams.

With the Members of the Blockchain & Virtual Assets Working Group

What is the purpose of the National Blockchain Adoption Strategy in Nigeria?

The purpose of the National Blockchain Adoption Strategy in Nigeria is to leverage blockchain technology as a platform for the transition to a digital economy. Its main aim is to drive the adoption of blockchain technology in public administration, leading to improved efficiency, transparency, security, and accountability in governance. It also aims to open job-creating opportunities in the transformation agenda of a digital economy. The strategy is built on six key initiatives, including the establishment of a Nigeria Blockchain Consortium, strengthening of the regulatory and legal framework, focus on the provision of National Digital Identity, promotion of blockchain digital literacy and awareness, creation of blockchain business incentive programs, and establishment of a national blockchain sandbox for proof of concepts and pilot implementation.

How does the strategy address the potential risks of blockchain technology?

The National Blockchain Adoption Strategy in Nigeria acknowledges the potential risks associated with blockchain technology, such as privacy, security, access to law enforcement mechanisms, and cryptocurrencies as a new type of asset. The strategy document emphasizes the need for regulatory and policy considerations to evolve a vibrant blockchain ecosystem, the creation of a national infrastructure for the deployment of blockchain solutions that integrate identity and incentive platforms, the promotion of research and development in blockchain, and the skilling of the workforce and students. Additionally, the strategy recommends creating a bimodal procurement process to enable government agencies to adopt blockchain solutions. The document also highlights the importance of establishing governance structures that will help navigate the technical landscape while understanding some of the most important components of a strategic approach to policy. Overall, the strategy aims to establish Nigeria as a vibrant blockchain ecosystem while managing the risks associated with the technology.

The Fintech Roadmap Committee of the Nigeria Capital Market.

What are the initiatives included in the strategy to promote blockchain adoption in Nigeria?

The National Blockchain Adoption Strategy in Nigeria includes the following six key initiatives to promote the adoption of blockchain technology

1. Establishment of Nigeria Blockchain Consortium

2. Strengthening of the Regulatory and legal framework

3. Focus of the provision of National Digital Identity

4. Promotion of Blockchain digital literacy and awareness

5. Creation of Blockchain business incentive programs

6. Establishment of a national blockchain sandbox for proof of concepts and pilot implementation.

These initiatives aim to drive the adoption of blockchain technology in public administration, leading to improved efficiency, transparency, security, and accountability in governance. They also aim to open job-creating opportunities in the transformation agenda of a digital economy.

To download a full copy, head over to NITDA Website.

Nigeria Blockchain & Crypto Assets Regulation AI Chatbot

I have trained/ built an AI Chatbot, a knowledge base to help startup founders and teams, answer all questions based on the currently available regulatory documents from SEC Nigeria, CBN, NFIU, and NITDA.

It's available here.

The knowledge base contains information on Nigeria’s startup ecosystem, the regulatory landscape for Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPs), and the National Blockchain Roadmap. It discusses the Nigeria Startup Act 2022, which aims to provide a legal and institutional framework for the development of startups in the country. The knowledge base also covers the establishment of digital technology centers, innovation clusters, hubs, and parks. Additionally, it provides guidance on navigating the regulatory landscape for VASPs in Nigeria, including compliance best practices and key risks. Furthermore, it touches upon the Proposed Rules for the Registration of VASPs and the National Blockchain Adoption Strategy.

Conclusion

Like many, I’m super excited about this strategy document. A policy document is the first step in the journey of driving the adoption of blockchain technology in Nigeria. Consider it as a kick-off whistle that heralds the start of a match. And this gets everyone excited.

The real deal is operationalizing this policy and making work for the overall good of the Nigerian people. Hope this too will come to pass.

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Thanks for reading.

Nigeria’s National Blockchain Policy Document: A Summary

Written by Chimezie Chuta