AI-Enabled Interoperability in Nigeria’s Public Sector: Evaluating the Role of X-Road Digital Infrastructure

Despite the efforts being made towards digital transformation, the continued disintegration of digital systems within the public sector and the lack of interoperability frameworks are continuing to hinder effective governance, coordinated service delivery and evidence-informed policy-making in Nigeria. The study focuses on the use of the X-Road digital infrastructure model for enhancing public-sector governance in Nigeria by leveraging the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of the interoperability model. Specifically, the study attempts to answer four research questions: How do interoperability challenges impact governance outcomes in Nigeria? How can AI improve data exchange and decision-making? Is X-Road adaptable to Nigeria's governance environment? What institutional conditions are required for successful implementation? The study followed the qualitative document analysis and comparative desk-based research design, based on secondary data regarding Estonia's X-Road framework obtained from policy documents, institutional reports, academic literature and case materials. The results show that interoperability, powered by AI, can be highly beneficial for data integration, administrative automation, transparency, and efficient delivery of public services by enabling real-time information sharing among governments. The study also revealed that digital infrastructure, institutional coordination, technical capacity, legal frameworks and cyber security issues are still significant challenges to implementation in Nigeria. The study finds that technological innovation is not enough for achieving interoperability if institutions and policies are not strong. It therefore calls for gradual and locally tailored adoption of X-Road-like systems, adoption of a comprehensive data protection and information sharing law, investments in digital infrastructure and human capacity development, and a single coordinating body for the implementation of interoperability standards and implementation in public institutions.