The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000, nearly 26 years after its approval, citing rapid technological change and evolving market realities that have rendered the existing framework outdated. The Commission announced the move on Monday with the release of a consultation paper inviting stakeholders to submit inputs on proposed amendments.
According to the NCC, the review seeks to reposition the country’s telecom policy to better reflect current developments in digital services, broadband expansion, internet governance, satellite communications and universal access, while sustaining the sector’s role as a major driver of economic growth. The regulator noted that the telecom landscape has evolved far beyond what was envisaged when the policy was approved under Nigeria’s early democratic government.
Providing context, the Commission recalled that the 2000 policy itself replaced an earlier 1998 framework that had become obsolete. The NTP introduced full market liberalisation, competition and a unified regulatory structure under the NCC, ending decades of government monopoly dominated by Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), which was plagued by poor service quality, obsolete infrastructure and low teledensity.
The policy overhaul that followed led to the licensing of GSM operators in 2001 and 2002, triggering explosive growth in mobile subscriptions and laying the foundation for the Nigerian Communications Act 2003. Since then, telecommunications has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most vibrant industries, enabling e-commerce, digital financial services, and the broader digital economy, while attracting substantial foreign direct investment and boosting GDP contributions.
As part of the ongoing review, the NCC is proposing revisions to key policy chapters, including internet governance, satellite communications, and sector financing, alongside a new chapter focused on broadband targets, protection of critical national infrastructure, and harmonised right-of-way charges. The Commission said stakeholder input would also guide solutions to persistent challenges such as multiple taxation and rising infrastructure costs, which pushed telecom operators’ operating expenses up by 85 percent to N5.85 trillion in 2024.
source: nairametrics