FG approves review of Nigerian Communications Act, NCC says

The Federal Government has approved the Nigerian Communications Commission’s move to review the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.

 

Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Usman, disclosed this on Tuesday at the NCC-organised National Telecommunications Policy Review Workshop in Lagos.

 

Usman said Nigeria could not build a competitive digital economy with outdated telecommunications policies and weak implementation systems.

 

According to her, the review became necessary because the Information and Communications Technology sector has changed significantly over the past two decades.

 

She noted that telecommunications now extends beyond voice connectivity to sectors including financial technology, digital commerce, education, healthcare, agriculture, innovation, public service delivery and national security.

 

“A policy that was fit for purpose in the year 2000 cannot simply be assumed to remain adequate in 2026,” she said.

 

Usman warned that outdated and fragmented laws often weaken implementation, create institutional overlaps, discourage investment and reduce national impact.

 

She stressed that policies should serve as frameworks that provide direction to regulators, confidence to investors and clarity to citizens.

 

According to her, the revised framework should address broadband penetration, affordability of digital access, quality of service, consumer protection, infrastructure resilience and inclusion of underserved communities.

 

She also called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators, investors, operators and infrastructure providers to accelerate sector growth.

 

Usman added that the proposed National Public Policy Development and Management Framework would strengthen policy coordination, monitoring and implementation across government institutions.

 

Earlier, Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said Nigeria’s telecommunications market had moved beyond the realities that shaped the National Telecommunications Policy of 2000.

 

He noted that the sector had evolved from basic connectivity into a major digital ecosystem supporting banking, commerce, education, cloud services, entertainment, digital identity and government operations.

 

Maida said emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, satellite broadband, cloud infrastructure, Internet of Things and cybersecurity regulation had further transformed the industry.

 

“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.

 

He identified major challenges facing the sector to include fibre cuts, vandalism, high energy costs, multiple taxation, permitting delays and rural connectivity gaps.

 

According to him, the revised framework is expected to support innovation, strengthen investment, protect consumers and improve service quality.

 

The NCC said the ongoing review process would help develop a new National Telecommunications Policy for 2026 aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions.