Nigeria is stepping up efforts to create a more integrated telecommunications market across West Africa, as regulators work to address persistent challenges such as high cross-border roaming charges, uneven regulation, and underdeveloped digital infrastructure. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) highlighted its commitment during a high-level visit from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) to Abuja, signaling a renewed push for regional collaboration.
At the meeting, Aminu Maida, NCC’s executive vice chairman, represented by director Kelechi Nwankwo, emphasized that regional cooperation is central to Nigeria’s telecom strategy. “West Africa becomes stronger and more prosperous when all countries are interconnected,” he said, underlining the link between seamless digital connectivity and economic growth. Nigeria has been a long-time advocate for regulatory alignment through platforms like the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), especially as cross-border data and voice traffic continue to increase.
A key part of Nigeria’s agenda is recognizing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as critical national infrastructure within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Maida noted that Nigeria has already designated ICT as part of its critical infrastructure, aiming to strengthen security, resilience, and investment in the sector. The NCC affirmed its readiness to support regional initiatives and turn policy discussions into actionable strategies benefiting both consumers and telecom operators.
For Liberia, the engagement represents an effort to align its regulatory framework with regional standards. Clarence Massaquoi, chairman of the LTA, acknowledged Nigeria’s influence as the region’s largest economy and telecom market. “Progress made by Nigeria often has far-reaching impacts across other West African countries,” he said, highlighting that affordable and reliable communications are essential for achieving ECOWAS’ vision of regional integration.
Cross-border roaming remains a major concern for businesses and citizens operating across West Africa. Massaquoi shared that Liberia has already signed bilateral telecom agreements with The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire and is negotiating with Ghana and Guinea-Conakry. Both regulators emphasized that the visit reinforced their commitment to deeper cooperation, prioritizing initiatives that could accelerate seamless connectivity, regional integration, and socio-economic development across the sub-region.
source: Business day