FG Begins Review of Nigeria’s 26-Year-Old Telecoms Policy

The federal government has commenced a major review of Nigeria’s National Telecommunications Policy 2000 as part of efforts to modernise the country’s digital infrastructure and improve public service delivery.

The review was announced on Wednesday during an ongoing telecoms policy workshop in Lagos organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, said the existing policy, developed 26 years ago, could no longer adequately address the realities of today’s digital economy. According to her, a policy framework designed for Nigeria’s telecoms sector in 2000 cannot automatically remain effective in 2026 due to rapid technological and economic changes. “The workshop is not merely a technical engagement,” Usman said.

“It is an opportunity to look back honestly, assess the present clearly and prepare for the future with discipline.”

She noted that the National Telecommunications Policy 2000 played a key role in liberalising Nigeria’s telecoms industry, encouraging private sector investment and transforming telecommunications into one of the country’s most dynamic sectors.

However, she stressed that the role of telecommunications has significantly evolved beyond voice communication. “Technology has changed. The economy has changed. Citizens’ expectations have changed,” she stated.

“What was once seen mainly as voice connectivity has now become the backbone of e-commerce, financial technology, digital identity, healthcare, education, agriculture, security, disaster response, innovation and job creation.”

Usman said the review would help bridge Nigeria’s digital divide and improve public service delivery across critical sectors. She called on industry stakeholders to make meaningful contributions towards developing a resilient and inclusive digital economy.

According to her, modern telecoms policy must address issues such as consumer protection, cybersecurity, data governance, infrastructure resilience, investment, digital skills, innovation and national productivity. “We must identify where coverage gaps exist, where infrastructure remains weak, and where coordination failures are slowing progress,” she added.

In his remarks, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Aminu Maida, said Nigeria’s telecommunications sector had evolved significantly since the introduction of the policy in 2000.

Maida explained that the priority at the time was to move Nigeria away from a state-controlled telecoms system with low connectivity and poor access to a liberalised and competitive market.

He noted that today’s digital environment now demands stronger regulation in broadband infrastructure, digital financial services, cybersecurity, data governance, consumer trust and critical infrastructure protection.

According to him, the next telecoms policy must move beyond traditional sector regulation and support Nigeria’s broader digital transformation agenda.

Industry stakeholders, including representatives of the National Information Technology Development Agency and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, also backed the policy review, describing it as necessary for Nigeria’s long-term digital development.