NCC Begins Overhaul of 26-Year Telecom Policy to Match Digital Era

Nigeria has begun a major rethink of its telecommunications framework as regulators move to overhaul the 26-year-old policy that has guided the sector since 2000, saying it no longer reflects the realities of a fast-evolving digital economy.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (Nigerian Communications Commission) announced the review at a national policy workshop in Lagos on Wednesday, where government officials, industry players and development stakeholders gathered to chart a new direction for the sector.

The review is expected to produce a modern framework that aligns telecommunications regulation with today’s demands, including broadband expansion, digital services, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

Speaking at the workshop, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Usman, said the original policy, introduced at the dawn of liberalisation in 2000, was no longer adequate for Nigeria’s current technological and economic environment.

“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 had moved far beyond voice calls and basic connectivity, becoming the backbone of financial services, e-commerce, education delivery, healthcare systems, agriculture innovation and public administration.

She stressed that the sector now functions as a critical enabler of national productivity rather than a standalone industry.

According to her, outdated policy structures risk slowing investment, creating institutional conflicts and weakening the impact of government interventions across the digital space.

The presidential aide identified key challenges affecting the sector, including fibre cuts, vandalism, multiple taxation, delayed regulatory approvals, right-of-way disputes, insecurity and rising energy costs.

She said addressing these issues would require stronger coordination between federal and state authorities, regulators, private operators and infrastructure providers.

Also speaking, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said the sector had fundamentally transformed since the early 2000s when the focus was primarily on liberalisation and expanding access to mobile services.

He explained that telecommunications now supports banking systems, digital commerce, cloud computing, education platforms, identity management systems and government services.

“This is no longer a narrow telecommunications conversation. It is a productivity infrastructure for the entire economy,” Maida said.

He added that the emergence of technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, satellite broadband, Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced cybersecurity systems has further expanded the scope and complexity of regulation.

According to him, the review process will also address rural connectivity gaps, infrastructure protection challenges, high operating costs and persistent delays in deployment approvals.

The NCC said the goal is to develop a policy framework that strengthens innovation, improves service quality, protects consumers, attracts investment and supports Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

The workshop also assessed gaps in the existing policy and gathered stakeholder input toward a revised national telecommunications policy expected to guide the sector into the next decade.