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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
With the rate at which people are now adopting e-commerce as transaction model, the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA) has revealed that it is working with other stakeholders to formulate the National Policy on e-Commerce which seeks to regulate and protect both the buyers and the sellers while transacting business online.
This disclosure was made by the Agency’s Director, Standards, Guidelines and Framework, Mr. Oladejo Olawunmi at 2nd Day of the Consumer Protection Forum with the theme, “Enabling the e-Commerce Services Driven Economy: Opportunities for Consumers, Challenges and Way Forward in Nigeria”.
According to the Director, NITDA wants to make sure that there is a regulation in place that would ensure all players in the industry are protected and not ‘shortchanged,’ adding that “if there is no regulation in the industry, there would be chaos and that’s what NITDA is trying to avoid.”
He said, “over the past months, NITDA, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, has been trying to put together the National Policy on eCommerce. We have had several engagements with other stakeholders and this is one of them. We want to have your opinions on what exactly you want from this so we can incorporate them in order to have a comprehensive and robust policy.”
He opined that the outbreak of COVID-19 has shifted people’s attention to e-commerce which has been hitherto not gaining the expected traction.
He said, “You can agree with me that the e-commerce sector really boomed in 2020. Since then, globally, we have realised the potentials and everybody is striving to make sure that they have their own bit of the game.”
While disclosing the current market value of e-commerce in Nigeria which he said stands at 13billion USD, Mr. Olawunmi said by 2025 the market value is expected to be around 75 billion USD and with over 3 million jobs created.
He urged Nigerians to embrace e-commerce as government is doing all it could do to develop all the enablers of the sector.
