The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a sweeping review of the country’s National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000, nearly three decades after it first opened the door to market liberalisation and the GSM revolution.
The NCC said the overhaul is intended to bring the policy framework in line with the realities of Nigeria’s digital economy in 2026, as the sector grapples with rising operating costs, new technologies and the rapid expansion of broadband-dependent services.
In a statement announcing the exercise, the NCC acknowledged that the 2000 policy was instrumental in dismantling the era of state-controlled monopolies such as Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), setting the stage for private sector participation and the mass adoption of mobile telephony.
But the commission said the same policy is now outdated, unable to regulate the complexities of a modern digital ecosystem shaped by platform-based services, satellite connectivity and growing concerns over internet governance and online safety.
The review is expected to shift the sector’s regulatory emphasis from traditional voice services to a framework built around non-terrestrial networks, including satellite systems, broadband expansion and the increasing dominance of digital platforms.
Among the central issues under consideration is the harmonisation of right-of-way (RoW) charges imposed by state and local governments, which the NCC described as one of the biggest obstacles to nationwide infrastructure deployment.
The commission said inconsistent and often excessive RoW fees have contributed to ballooning costs across the industry. Data cited by the regulator show that telecoms operating costs surged by 85% to ₦5.85tn in 2024, with RoW charges identified as a key driver.
To tackle the problem, the NCC is proposing a one-stop permitting process designed to streamline approvals, cut bureaucratic delays and ease the financial burden on network operators.
The draft proposals also outline major changes across critical areas of the telecommunications ecosystem. In satellite services, the NCC plans to harmonise upstream and downstream operations while introducing clearer spectrum mapping to ensure smooth coexistence between terrestrial and satellite networks.
On internet governance, the regulator is seeking stronger online safety protocols, clearer content moderation guidelines and expanded development of internet exchange points. Financial reforms are also being considered, including fiscal and monetary incentives aimed at protecting operators from multiple taxation and overlapping regulatory demands.
The commission is further proposing tougher safeguards for Critical National Communications Infrastructure, amid persistent concerns about vandalism, cable theft and service disruptions.
Speaking on behalf of the executive vice-chairman, Aminu Maida, the executive commissioner, Rimini Makama, said the amendments were necessary to keep Nigeria’s telecoms industry competitive and resilient in a fast-changing global market.
The NCC has released a consultation paper and invited stakeholders to submit input that will help shape the next generation of regulatory instruments for Nigeria’s connectivity ambitions.
Chizua Whyte, head of legal and regulatory services at the NCC, said the review was being carried out under the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, describing it as part of the commission’s statutory duty to ensure the legal framework evolves alongside technological change.
The regulator said the revised policy is expected to provide the foundation for a more robust, investment-friendly and digitally inclusive telecommunications sector, capable of meeting Nigeria’s growing appetite for high-speed connectivity and emerging digital services.
