The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched the National Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Framework, a landmark regulatory initiative designed to improve software quality, strengthen cybersecurity, and enhance public confidence in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and government services.
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, NITDA, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, the framework was approved and signed by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, under the provisions of the NITDA Act 2007.
The statement said the framework establishes national standards governing the design, development, testing and deployment of software across Federal Government institutions, regulated sectors and the broader digital ecosystem, with the objective of reducing costly information technology failures while improving the security and reliability of digital platforms.
Under the new regulatory framework, software deployed for government projects will be required to undergo independent third-party testing and obtain official certification before being approved for deployment. Compliance with the framework will also become a mandatory requirement for obtaining IT Project Clearance from the Agency.
NITDA explained that the Software Quality Assurance Framework integrates three key regulatory instruments aimed at standardising software development and testing nationwide.
These include the National Software Development Guideline, which prescribes structured software development lifecycles, secure coding practices based on Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) standards, standardised documentation and compliance with internationally recognised web accessibility standards for citizen-facing digital services.
The framework also incorporates the National Software Testing Guideline, which introduces comprehensive pre-deployment testing requirements covering software functionality, cybersecurity, system performance under peak operational loads and interoperability with other digital platforms.
In addition, the Software Testing Organisations Licensing (STOL) Guideline establishes a regulatory regime for accrediting independent Licensed Software Testing Organisations (LSTOs) responsible for evaluating and certifying software before deployment.
To ensure that regulatory requirements reflect the level of risk associated with different software applications, the Agency has introduced a tiered classification model.
Under the model, software applications will be categorised into Class A, Class B and Class C based on their operational significance and potential impact.
Critical infrastructure platforms designated as Class A, including core banking switches, national identity management systems and power grid control platform will be subjected to the highest level of security requirements, extensive penetration testing and specialised audits conducted by top-tier accredited software testing organisations.
Moderate-risk enterprise platforms will fall under Class B, while lower-risk internal software applications will be classified as Class C with corresponding regulatory requirements.
The Agency said the new framework is expected to deliver multiple benefits to Nigeria’s digital economy by improving the reliability of public digital services, reducing vulnerabilities that expose systems to cyberattacks and protecting public investments from software failures.
It also noted that the establishment of a regulated software testing industry is expected to stimulate indigenous technology innovation, create new business opportunities for software testing firms, promote internationally recognised certifications and generate high-skilled employment for Nigerian technology professionals.
Beyond the domestic market, NITDA believes the framework will improve international confidence in Nigerian-developed software by ensuring products meet globally accepted standards for quality, security and interoperability, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in foreign markets and supporting increased foreign direct investment in the country’s digital economy.
Speaking on the initiative, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi described quality assurance as fundamental to building trust in digital systems.
“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,” he said.
The Agency disclosed that while the Software Quality Assurance Framework will officially come into full effect in the second quarter of 2027, implementation activities will commence immediately through nationwide stakeholder engagement sessions, capacity-building programmes and the formal accreditation of software testing organisations.
NITDA also announced that it will soon issue an Expression of Interest (EOI) inviting qualified software testing organisations to participate in the licensing process, providing technology firms with the opportunity to strengthen their technical capacity and align with the country’s emerging software quality assurance standards.
