The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to commenced a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000, bringing to bear, significant steps toward aligning the country’s digital ecosystem with present global realities.
After about three decades after the policy was introduced, the Commission noted that the overhaul had become necessary to address escalating operational costs in the industry and to provide a forward-looking framework for satellite services, broadband expansion, and digital platforms.
The NCC acknowledged that the year 2,000 policy initiative had played transformative roles in liberalising the sector, effectively ending the era of state-owned monopolies such as Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and ushering in the GSM revolution that reshaped Nigeria’s communications landscape.
However, the NCC noted that the policy is no longer adequate to manage the complexities of today’s digital economy in 2026. The on-going review seeks to shift the sector’s regulatory focus from basic voice services to a framework driven by:
- Platform-based digital services
- Non-terrestrial networks, particularly satellite connectivity
- Broadband-dependent applications
- Strengthened internet governance and online safety mechanisms
A key plank of the review is the harmonisation of Right-of-Way (RoW) charges across states and local government areas.
The regulator described “inconsistent and often excessive RoW fees as a major bottleneck to infrastructure rollout nationwide”.
Industry data have shown that telecom operating costs in Nigeria surged by as high as 85 percent to ₦5.85 trillion in 2024, with exhorbitant RoW charges identified as one of the primary drivers of the increase.
To address this, the NCC is proposing the introduction of a one-stop permitting process aimed at streamlining approvals for infrastructure deployment and reducing the financial burden on operators.
The review outlines several proposed changes across critical areas of the telecommunications ecosystem:
- Satellite Services (Chapter 8): Plans to harmonise upstream and downstream satellite services and introduce clearer spectrum mapping to ensure effective coexistence between terrestrial and satellite networks.
- Internet Governance (Chapter 7): Strengthening online safety protocols, enhancing content moderation guidelines, and deepening the development of internet exchange points.
- Finance (Chapter 10): Introducing fiscal and monetary incentives to protect the sector from multiple taxation and overlapping regulatory requirements.
- Infrastructure Protection: Establishing stronger safeguards for Critical National Communications Infrastructure to curb vandalism and minimise service disruptions.
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Engagement, Rimini Makama, said the proposed amendments are crucial to ensuring Nigeria’s telecommunications sector remains competitive and resilient in a rapidly evolving global market.
The NCC in this respect, has released a consultation paper and invited stakeholders to submit contributions that will shape the regulatory instruments for the next phase of Nigeria’s connectivity journey.
Chizua Whyte, Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC, in a presentation, stated that the review is being conducted in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, underscoring the Commission’s statutory responsibility to ensure that the legal framework evolves in tandem with technological advancements.
The policy review is expected to lay the groundwork for a more robust, investment-friendly, and digitally inclusive telecommunications sector capable of meeting Nigeria’s growing demand for high-speed connectivity and emerging digital services.
