NCC Begins Review of 26-Year-Old Telecommunications Policy
The Nigerian Communications Commission has commenced a two-day Stakeholders’ Policy Review Workshop in Lagos aimed at reviewing Nigeria’s National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000 as part of efforts to reposition the country’s digital economy.
The workshop brought together industry stakeholders, policymakers, and technology experts to assess milestones recorded in the telecommunications sector and discuss future policy directions for Nigeria’s evolving digital ecosystem.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said the communications sector has evolved beyond a standalone industry into a broad ecosystem driving national development.
Mr Maida stressed the need for forward-looking policy frameworks to address emerging technologies and trends, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), satellite broadband, the Internet of Things (IoT), critical infrastructure protection, digital sovereignty, and Quality of Experience (QoE).
According to him, the rapid transformation of the digital economy requires policies capable of supporting innovation while ensuring security, inclusion, and sustainability.
He cited projections by the GSMA indicating that increased digitisation across sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and trade could contribute an additional two per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), create about two million jobs, and generate approximately N1.6 trillion in tax revenue.
Mr Maida also emphasised the importance of integrating cybersecurity, data governance, digital financing, and online safety into regulatory frameworks to sustain growth and build public trust in digital systems.
He noted that effective regulation would be critical to balancing technological innovation with consumer protection in Nigeria’s expanding digital landscape.
