The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has raised concerns over potential regulatory conflicts in the proposed National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill 2025. Speaking at a joint public hearing of Senate and House committees on ICT, Cybersecurity, and Digital Economy in Abuja, ALTON Chairman Gbenga Adebayo cautioned that certain sections of the bill could overlap with the statutory mandate of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), risking investor confidence in the sector.
While praising lawmakers for their efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, Adebayo stressed that some provisions in the draft legislation grant regulatory powers to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) that currently fall under the NCC. He urged the National Assembly to ensure the bill complements, rather than overrides, existing telecom regulations.
Responding to the concerns, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, assured that ALTON’s submissions would be carefully considered during the bill’s final drafting. The dialogue highlights the government’s ongoing effort to balance regulation and growth in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said Nigeria is on track to become a continental benchmark for digital transformation. Speaking at the hearing, he noted that the digital economy’s contribution to GDP has risen from 16% to 19%, with a target of 21% by 2027. Tijani highlighted major initiatives, including the rollout of 90,000 kilometers of fibre-optic networks, nearly 4,000 new communication towers, and frameworks for AI adoption.
Lawmakers have described the bill as the first of its kind in Africa, designed to provide regulatory clarity for electronic transactions, digitise government services, and establish a robust foundation for Nigeria’s e-governance architecture. With President Bola Tinubu expected to sign the bill into law this week, stakeholders across the telecom and digital sectors are watching closely for its potential impact.
source: The Guardian