Digital Economy Policy and National Competitiveness: Nigeria and China in Perspective

The study compared the digital economy policies of Nigeria and China to examine how differences in policy design influence national competitiveness. Specifically, it analysed Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS 2020–2030) and China’s Digital China Construction Overall Layout Plan (2023–2035) with a view to understanding their institutional structures, governance arrangements, and implementation models. Guided by Policy Capacity Theory, the study adopted a qualitative method through a comparative policy analysis, drawing on official policy documents, government reports, and relevant scholarly literature. It was found that Nigeria’s digital economy strategy is largely market-driven and relies on private sector participation, public-private partnerships, and external financing. This approach contributed to improvements in digital inclusion, broadband expansion, and fintech development, challenges relating to institutional coordination, infrastructure gaps, and limited public investment constrain competitiveness. China’s strategy built around centralised coordination, state-directed financing, and long-term technological planning enabled the country to develop advanced digital infrastructure, strengthen innovation capacity, and position itself as a leading actor in emerging technologies. The study concluded that national competitiveness in the digital economy is shaped not only by the existence of digital policies but also by the coherence of policy design, governance structures, and implementation capacity. It therefore recommended that Nigeria strengthen institutional coordination, improve strategic public investment in digital infrastructure, and develop a more integrated framework for long-term digital transformation.