The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a review of Nigeria’s 26-year-old telecommunications policy, saying the current framework no longer reflects the realities of the country’s fast-changing digital economy.
Speaking on Wednesday at the national telecommunications policy review workshop in Lagos, Hadiza Usman, special adviser to the president on policy and coordination, said the review had become necessary because Nigeria’s economy, technology ecosystem, and security environment had changed significantly since the national telecommunications policy was introduced in 2000.
“A policy that was fit for purpose in the year 2000 cannot simply be assumed to remain adequate in 2026,” Usman said.
She said telecommunications had evolved beyond voice connectivity and now supports financial technology, digital commerce, education, healthcare, agriculture, innovation, public service delivery, and national security operations.
“Telecommunications is no longer a standalone sector. It is an enabling platform for almost every other sector of national life,” she said.
Usman warned that outdated or poorly coordinated policies weaken implementation, discourage investment, create institutional overlaps, and reduce measurable national impact.
According to her, the revised framework must address broadband penetration, affordability of digital access, quality of service, infrastructure resilience, consumer protection, and inclusion of underserved communities.
“The revised policy must not become another document that sits on shelves. It must become a working instrument,” she said.
The presidential aide also identified fibre cuts, vandalism, multiple taxation, delayed approvals, right-of-way bottlenecks, insecurity, and energy constraints as major obstacles slowing telecommunications infrastructure expansion across the country.
She said resolving the challenges would require coordinated action among federal institutions, state governments, local authorities, regulators, operators, investors, and infrastructure providers.
‘TELECOMS SECTOR HAS OUTGROWN ASSUMPTIONS BEHIND 2000 POLICY’
Earlier, Aminu Maida, executive vice-chairman (EVC) of the NCC, said the telecommunications industry had outgrown the assumptions behind the national telecommunications policy 2000.
Maida said the policy was introduced at a time when Nigeria’s focus was on liberalisation, competition, increased access, and private sector participation in telecommunications services.
According to the EVC, the industry has since evolved into a broader digital ecosystem supporting banking, commerce, education, cloud services, entertainment, digital identity systems, and government operations.
“This is no longer a narrow telecommunications conversation. It is no longer just one sector within the economy; it is a productivity infrastructure for the entire economy,” he said.
Maida added that emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, satellite broadband, cloud infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT), and cybersecurity regulation have further transformed the sector.
He said the review process would also address structural issues including rural connectivity gaps, multiple taxation, vandalism, high energy costs, fibre cuts, and delays in obtaining permits.
“The commission aims to develop a modern policy framework capable of supporting innovation, protecting consumers, improving quality of experience, strengthening investment, and advancing Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions,” Maida said.
The EVC said the workshop was organised to assess implementation of the existing policy, identify gaps, engage stakeholders, and develop recommendations for a new national telecommunications policy 2026.
