The National Information Technology Development Agency has announced plans to license technology firms to provide independent software testing services as part of efforts to improve the quality, security and reliability of software deployed across government institutions and regulated private sector organisations.

The initiative follows the launch of the National Software Quality Assurance Framework, which will require all Federal Government software projects to undergo independent third-party testing and certification before deployment.

As reported by Nairametrics, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by NITDA’s Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Hadiza Umar, the framework is designed to reduce costly information technology failures, strengthen cybersecurity and improve public confidence in digital government services by establishing national standards for software development, testing and deployment.

Signed by the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, under the provisions of the NITDA Act 2007, the framework will become a mandatory requirement for obtaining IT Project Clearance for government software projects from the second quarter of 2027.

As part of its implementation, NITDA said it would begin nationwide stakeholder engagement and capacity-building programmes while commencing the accreditation process for Licensed Software Testing Organisations.

The agency disclosed that an Expression of Interest would soon be issued to technology firms interested in obtaining licences to conduct software testing and certification.

“An Expression of Interest will be issued shortly for prospective testing organisations seeking licensing, giving tech firms ample opportunity to align their technical capacity with the new national framework,” the agency said.

Beyond improving software quality, NITDA said the framework would create a regulated market for independent software testing services, providing new opportunities for indigenous technology companies and software professionals.

The agency added that the initiative would encourage local firms to obtain internationally recognised certifications, create high-skilled technology jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s software ecosystem.

It also expressed confidence that the framework would improve trust in Nigerian-developed software, enabling local technology companies to compete more effectively in international markets while attracting foreign investment.

“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,” Abdullahi said.

“This is how we modernise government technology and position Nigerian software to compete on the global stage,” he added.

According to NITDA, the framework brings together three regulatory instruments into a single national standard. These include the National Software Development Guideline, the National Software Testing Guideline and the Software Testing Organisations Licensing Guideline.

Under the new regime, government software projects must receive certification from accredited third-party testing organisations before deployment.

The framework also introduces a risk-based classification system that categorises software into three classes based on their operational and cybersecurity risks.

Class A will cover high-risk and critical infrastructure systems such as core banking switches, national identity management platforms and electricity grid control systems, which will be subject to the highest levels of security testing and specialised audits.

Class B will apply to moderate-risk enterprise platforms, while Class C will cover lower-risk internal applications, ensuring that software testing requirements are proportionate to the level of risk posed by each system.