NCC begins process to overhaul the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 amid rising demands for stronger broadband access, consumer protection, and digital innovation.

The Federal Government has approved a proposal by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to begin the review of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003.

The announcement was made in Lagos on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Usman, during the National Telecommunications Policy Review Workshop organised by the NCC. She explained that the law has served as the guiding framework for Nigeria’s telecommunications industry for more than two decades.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the country’s telecommunications sector has evolved significantly beyond the vision of the 2000 National Telecommunications Policy.
According to Maida, the policy was originally created to liberalise the telecom industry, expand access, encourage competition, and attract private investment. However, the sector has now transformed into a broad digital ecosystem supporting banking, commerce, education, entertainment, cloud services, digital identity management, and government operations.
Usman stressed that reviewing the existing law has become essential, noting that Nigeria cannot continue relying on outdated telecom regulations if it hopes to build a strong and globally competitive digital economy.
She explained that developments in technology, security, economic activities, and citizens’ expectations have moved far beyond the realities that existed when the legislation was first enacted.
Usman further stated that telecommunications now goes beyond voice communication and plays a major role in areas such as financial services, digital trade, healthcare, agriculture, innovation, public service delivery, and national security coordination.
In her words, “A policy that was fit for purpose in the year 2000 cannot simply be assumed to remain adequate in 2026. When policies are outdated or poorly coordinated, they often create confusion in implementation, lead to overlapping duties among agencies, discourage investment, and reduce the overall impact of government actions.
“Policies should not just exist as official documents, but must serve as clear guides for regulators, investors, and citizens on how the system is meant to work.”
She noted that unclear policy direction often results in inconsistent implementation, duplication of responsibilities, and poor development outcomes by public institutions.
Usman therefore called for the new policy framework to prioritise broadband expansion, affordable internet access, improved service delivery, stronger consumer protection, better infrastructure, and inclusion for underserved communities.
She also emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, regulators, investors, telecom operators, and local authorities to accelerate growth in the sector.
According to her, the review process should not be treated as an ordinary regulatory exercise, but as part of a broader national development agenda linked to ongoing economic reforms.
Usman added that the Federal Government is now focused on ensuring that policy development is tied to implementation, monitoring, and measurable results across all levels of governance.
She said, “The proposed National Public Policy Development and Management Framework is coming at the right time to help close existing gaps through structured planning, evaluation, and evidence-based decision making.”
On his part, Dr. Aminu Maida noted that the telecommunications industry is now being shaped by emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, satellite internet, cloud infrastructure, the Internet of Things, and cybersecurity systems.
He explained that telecommunications has become more than just a sector of the economy, describing it as a key productivity infrastructure supporting the entire economy.
Maida said the review is necessary to sustain competition, guarantee universal access, protect consumers, and encourage innovation and investment.
He also highlighted major challenges affecting the sector, including fibre optic cuts, vandalism, high energy costs, multiple taxation, delays in obtaining permits, and poor connectivity in rural communities.
“These issues now affect national development because they reduce the quality and reliability of digital services across the country,” he said.
Maida explained that the workshop was organised to examine the current policy framework, identify existing gaps, engage stakeholders, and develop recommendations for a new National Telecommunications Policy expected in 2026.
He said the objective is to establish a modern framework that will boost innovation, improve service delivery, strengthen consumer protection, attract investments, and support Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions.
The NCC boss also urged stakeholders to actively participate in the review process with openness and commitment toward strengthening Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s leading digital economies.