NCC Urges Communications Act Reform for Nigeria’s Digital Future

Citing the need to bring the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) of 2003 into line with changing technological realities and Nigeria’s digital ambitions, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has begun planning to revise the law.

The NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Dr. Aminu Maida, stated at a colloquium on Tuesday in Lagos that the law, which has been in place for two decades, has grown more and more out of step with the needs of the modern, tech-driven economy.

Maida pointed out that the communications industry is undergoing fundamental changes due to revolutionary technologies like blockchain, 5G, IoT, AI, and quantum computing.

The opportunities and threats presented by these advances are not entirely addressed by the current Act, though.

“We must rethink Nigeria’s digital future in light of the realities of 2025. Instead of only addressing obstacles, a reformed Communications Act must foresee potential, according to Maida.

Overcoming telecom obstacles, he pointed out that the law must address enduring issues such as inadequate power supplies, expensive Right of Way (RoW) approvals, growing operational costs, and restricted internet coverage in rural areas.

Notwithstanding its shortcomings, Maida commended the current Act for breaking up monopolies and leveling the playing field in Nigeria’s telecom sector.

He pointed out that the rise of a digital economy, a surge in internet penetration, and an exponential increase in mobile subscriptions—from less than 300,000 in 2001 to over 150 million today—are all results of these reforms.

He noted that thanks to advancements like e-commerce, e-learning, and mobile banking, which have changed the lives of millions of Nigerians, the industry now accounts for around 14% of the country’s GDP.

In Collaborating with stakeholders, the NCC boss congratulated the National Assembly for driving the review process and reaffirmed the Commission’s sustained engagement with lawmakers, industry participants, and foreign partners to develop a future-ready regulatory framework.

Peter Akpatason, the chairman of the House Committee on Communications, also spoke at the ceremony and emphasized the strategic significance of the review and the necessity of reevaluating the Act’s efficacy after twenty years.

He emphasized how urgent it is to solve the digital gap, cybersecurity, AI legislation, and 5G implementation.

He urged interested parties to have fruitful discussions and provide information that will guide legislative changes meant to build a more robust and inclusive digital economy.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented by Deputy Whip Isiaka Ayokunle, also spoke at the occasion and stated that the communications industry is still vital to Nigeria’s social and economic advancement.

While acknowledging the advancements made in e-commerce and mobile banking services, Abbas cautioned that progress could be jeopardized by the growing concerns of cybersecurity.

He emphasized recent legislative initiatives to support digital trust and innovation, including the Startup Act, Nigerian Data Protection Act, and Cybercrime Act.

He was hopeful that the colloquium would produce useful suggestions that would direct Communications Act revisions and improve Nigeria’s regulatory environment.

Additional information from the Lawmakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders gathered for the event, which had as its theme “The Nigerian Communications Act 2003: 22 Years After — Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions for a Digital Nigeria,” to discuss the Act’s applicability in the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.

It is anticipated that the two-day colloquium would result in lively debates between politicians, industry executives, and specialists. A contemporary legal framework that supports Nigeria’s goal of becoming a globally competitive digital economy will be shaped in part by the sessions’ outcomes.