The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on industry stakeholders and the general public to submit written inputs on the ongoing review of Nigeria’s National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000, as part of efforts to reposition the sector for emerging challenges and opportunities.
The Commission said submissions must be made on or before March 20, 2026, and addressed to the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer or sent electronically to its designated email channel. The consultation paper for the review has been published on the Commission’s website.
The policy review is being conducted pursuant to Section 24 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, which mandates a public consultative process prior to the formulation or amendment of general policy guidelines for the communications sector.
The exercise follows the inauguration of a Ministerial Steering Committee and a Ministerial Technical Committee by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to commence the process of overhauling the 25-year-old telecoms policy framework.
According to the NCC, the review will align with the Minister’s Strategic Blueprint, which prioritises spectrum management, universal access, broadband expansion, net neutrality and quality of service. The outcome of the consultation will support the committees in developing a revised National Telecommunications Policy 2026 to replace the existing NTP 2000.
Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said the review is designed to address structural gaps in the current framework, particularly the surge in data demand and the broader implications for infrastructure, competition and consumer protection.
Maida noted that the NTP 2000 played a pivotal role in transforming Nigeria’s telecom landscape — from fewer than 500,000 active lines at inception to nearly 180 million active mobile connections as of December 2026. However, he said the rapid evolution of technology and market dynamics over the past two decades necessitates a comprehensive update.
“This is the first step in a multi-layered consultation process,” Maida said, adding that further stakeholder engagements will follow before a final draft is subjected to statutory approval and validation procedures.
The Commission said the consultation is open to licensees, consumers, government agencies, international partners, civil society organisations and other interested stakeholders. It added that the 15 key policy proposals outlined in the consultation paper will form the baseline for potential amendments, covering regulatory sustainability, emerging technologies, national security and sector competitiveness.
The NTP 2000, which succeeded the 1998 policy framework, laid the foundation for market liberalisation and competition in Nigeria’s telecom sector and paved the way for the enactment of the NCA 2003. The current review is expected to shape the next phase of growth in one of Nigeria’s most dynamic industries.
