By Ifeoma Ben, LLM, MBA
Technology is increasingly blurring the line between the physical and digital worlds, and one of the most exciting developments in this space is digital twin technology. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical asset, process, or system that enables users to monitor, test, and optimise performance in real-time. From buildings and factories to hospitals and power grids, digital twins are revolutionising how data is utilised to enhance decision-making, efficiency, and sustainability. Though still emerging in Nigeria, the potential applications are vast, and they could reshape how industries plan, build, and operate.
Understanding Digital Twin Technology
A digital twin gathers data from sensors embedded in a physical system and feeds it into a digital model that mirrors the real-world object’s condition and behaviour. By analysing this live data, engineers, doctors, and policymakers can predict failures, optimise operations, or even simulate future scenarios before making costly real-world changes. Globally, the technology is already being applied in smart cities, aviation, and advanced manufacturing. Nigeria’s gradual digital transformation creates fertile ground for similar adoption.
Applications Across Key Sectors
Infrastructure
For Nigeria’s power and transport sectors, digital twins could help governments and investors track assets, plan maintenance, and manage grid reliability. Imagine monitoring an entire road network or power substation in real time, anticipating faults before they occur. As the country embarks on large-scale urban projects and embraces smart-city concepts in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, digital twins could become integral to efficient infrastructure management.
Healthcare
In health care, digital twins can model patient data, predict disease progression, and support precision medicine. A hospital equipped with digital-twin technology could simulate workflows, optimise resource use, and improve patient outcomes. With Nigeria’s ongoing investment in e-health and telemedicine, adopting such tools could bridge capacity gaps in diagnostics and hospital management.
Manufacturing
Manufacturers could benefit from real-time process monitoring, predictive maintenance, and product testing in a risk-free digital environment. As Nigeria expands its industrial base under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), these innovations can reduce downtime, enhance quality control, and boost competitiveness.
Policy and Legal Considerations
For Nigeria to harness the full benefits of digital twins, clear policy frameworks must guide data use, cybersecurity, and intellectual-property protection. The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 already establishes a foundation for responsible data processing, but additional sector-specific regulations will be needed to address the complex data flows involved in digital-twin ecosystems. Lawyers have an essential role in drafting and interpreting contracts for data sharing, technology licensing, and liability in automated decision-making. They also advise businesses on cross-border data-transfer compliance, cybersecurity governance, and digital-infrastructure investment structures.
Looking Ahead
Digital twin technology holds enormous promise for Nigeria’s digital economy. It can drive smarter planning, predictive maintenance, and data-driven policy decisions across multiple sectors. However, its success depends on collaboration among technologists, regulators, and legal experts to ensure that innovation is grounded in trust, transparency, and sound governance. As Nigeria builds its next phase of digital infrastructure, digital twins may well become the invisible engines powering a more efficient, connected, and sustainable future.
