Exploring the Interplay of Infrastructure, Digital Literacy and Policy Gaps as Barriers to Effective Digital Governance in Nigeria

Persistent barriers continue to undermine digital governance in many developing countries, yet the specific mechanisms through which infrastructure deficits, digital literacy challenges, and policy misalignment constrain state capacity remain underexplored. This paper investigates the institutional and technological impediments to effective digital governance in Nigeria, drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and employing simulation-based policy and tech-driven solutions. Using tools such as Figma and Python, we developed adaptive learning modules and interactive dashboards, while text mining techniques (e.g., TensorFlow) were used to extract and analyse Nigerian digital governance policy documents in comparative perspective with more digitally advanced nations. Our findings reveal three critical constraints: (1) severe infrastructural deficiencies, particularly in internet access and electricity reliability; (2) widespread digital illiteracy, limiting public and bureaucratic engagement with digital platforms; and (3) fragmented and outdated policy frameworks, exacerbating institutional inertia. The study concludes that unless Nigeria addresses these systemic obstacles particularly through targeted investments in infrastructure, coordinated digital literacy campaigns, and comprehensive policy reform its aspirations for digital transformation will remain largely unrealized. We recommend the strategic deployment of public-private partnerships to scale infrastructure, alongside regulatory incentives to foster private sector participation in underserved regions. These findings have broader implications for understanding the interplay between institutional readiness and technological innovation in state-led digital transitions.