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NCC Begins Review of Nigeria’s 2000 Telecom Policy

by admin on | 2026-05-21 13:17:13

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NCC Begins Review of Nigeria’s 2000 Telecom Policy

Ahmad Sirajo Makama, Abuja

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has initiated a comprehensive review of the National Telecommunications Policy established in 2000. 

This action underscores the recognition that the nation’s rapidly evolving digital economy has surpassed the regulatory framework that guided the liberalization of the telecommunications sector over two decades ago.

Speaking at a policy review workshop in Lagos, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said the exercise is aimed at developing a modern telecommunications policy that reflects emerging technologies and Nigeria’s broader digital ambitions.

“This Workshop is not merely a gathering of experts and industry participants. It is a strategic national conversation on the future of Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital ecosystem,” Maida said.

He noted that when the policy was introduced in 2000, Nigeria’s telecom sector was dominated by the defunct NITEL and had fewer than 500,000 active telephone lines for a population of over 120 million people. He added that subsequent reforms opened the market to private investment, competition, and rapid network expansion.

According to him, the sector has evolved beyond basic connectivity into a critical driver of banking, fintech, education, healthcare, e-commerce, and government services.

“Telecommunications is no longer just one sector within the economy; it is productivity infrastructure for the entire economy,” he stated.

Maida said the industry is now facing new realities involving 5G, artificial intelligence, satellite broadband, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital trust, alongside persistent challenges such as fibre cuts, vandalism, high energy costs, multiple taxation, and rural connectivity gaps.

He stressed that the proposed National Telecommunications Policy 2026 would retain key principles such as competition, universal access, and consumer protection while supporting broadband expansion, innovation, and sustainable investment.

“Our task is to preserve the enduring principles of competition, universal access, independent regulation and consumer protection, while developing a modern policy framework that supports broadband expansion, innovation, investment and resilience,” he added.

The NCC boss also cited estimates by the GSMA indicating that deeper digitalisation across key sectors could boost Nigeria’s GDP, create nearly two million jobs, and increase tax revenue by about ₦1.6 trillion by 2028.

He added that the workshop would produce recommendations for a forward-looking telecom policy focused on broadband infrastructure, cybersecurity, regulatory coordination, artificial intelligence, data protection, and meaningful connectivity for Nigerians.

The NCC highlighted the growing need for inter-agency collaboration involving institutions such as the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, and National Identity Management Commission.

Maida said the workshop would assess the implementation of the existing telecom policy, identify gaps and challenges, and produce recommendations to shape a forward-looking telecommunications framework for Nigeria’s digital future.

The Chairman of MTN Nigeria and former EVC of NCC, Ernest Ndukwe, described the move as timely, noting that telecommunications systems have significantly advanced and evolved, hence the need for the review.

The workshop brought together government officials, regulators, industry leaders, development partners, and policy experts to deliberate on the future of Nigeria’s telecom and digital ecosystem.

The event featured panel discussions on policy approaches across different jurisdictions, focusing on key issues such as convergence, regulatory overlaps, and collaborative regulation.