NCC begins review of 26-year telecom policy to align with Nigeria’s digital economy

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s 26-year-old National Telecommunications Policy, saying the existing framework no longer reflects the realities of the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

The review was formally launched on Wednesday at the National Telecommunications Policy Review Workshop in Lagos, where government officials, regulators and industry stakeholders gathered to develop a modern policy framework for the sector.

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Usman, said the review had become imperative because the nation’s economic landscape, technology ecosystem and security environment had changed significantly since the 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,” she said.

Usman noted that telecommunications has evolved beyond voice communication into critical infrastructure underpinning financial technology, digital commerce, education, healthcare, agriculture, innovation, public service delivery and national security.

“Telecommunications is no longer a standalone sector. It is an enabling platform for almost every other sector of national life,” she said.

She warned that outdated or poorly coordinated policies could weaken implementation, discourage investment, create institutional overlaps and limit the country’s ability to achieve measurable development outcomes.

According to her, the revised policy should prioritise broadband expansion, affordable digital access, improved quality of service, resilient infrastructure, consumer protection and greater inclusion of underserved and rural communities.

“The revised policy must not become another document that sits on shelves. It must become a working instrument,” Usman stated.

She identified persistent fibre optic cable cuts, vandalism, multiple taxation, right-of-way bottlenecks, delayed approvals, insecurity and rising energy costs as major constraints affecting telecommunications infrastructure deployment nationwide.

Usman stressed that addressing the challenges would require coordinated action involving the Federal Government, state and local governments, regulators, operators, investors and infrastructure providers.

Earlier, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the telecommunications industry had far outgrown the assumptions on which the National Telecommunications Policy 2000 was built.

He recalled that the policy was introduced during the liberalisation era when the country’s priorities centred on expanding access, promoting competition and encouraging private sector investment in telecommunications services.

According to him, the sector has since transformed into a broader digital ecosystem supporting banking, e-commerce, education, cloud computing, entertainment, digital identity management 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,” Maida said.

He added that emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), satellite broadband, cloud infrastructure, the Internet of Things (IoT) and evolving cybersecurity requirements have fundamentally reshaped the industry.

Maida said the policy review would also examine structural challenges affecting sector growth, including rural connectivity gaps, multiple taxation, vandalism, fibre cuts, high operating costs driven by energy prices and delays in obtaining regulatory approvals.

According to him, the commission aims to develop a forward-looking policy framework that supports innovation, strengthens consumer protection, improves quality of experience, attracts investment and accelerates Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

He explained that the review workshop was convened to evaluate the implementation of the existing policy, identify emerging gaps, engage stakeholders and develop recommendations for a new National Telecommunications Policy 2026.

Industry analysts say the review is timely, noting that Nigeria’s digital economy has expanded far beyond traditional telecommunications and now requires a policy framework capable of supporting emerging technologies, expanding broadband infrastructure and positioning the country for greater competitiveness in the global digital economy.

They also believe a modernised policy could help resolve longstanding regulatory and infrastructure challenges while creating a more predictable investment environment for telecom operators and technology firms.