Nigeria has officially begun reviewing its National Telecommunications Policy 2000, a move that could reshape the country’s telecom and digital infrastructure framework after more than two decades.
The review process opened with a two-day stakeholders’ workshop held at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, bringing together officials from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, telecom operators, infrastructure providers, and other industry stakeholders.
According to information presented during the workshop, the review is intended to align Nigeria’s telecommunications framework with current technologies, broadband expansion goals, and wider digital economy priorities.
The existing telecommunications policy was introduced in 2000 during Nigeria’s telecom liberalisation period under former Communications Minister Mohammed Arzika. The framework later supported the licensing of GSM operators and the expansion of private telecommunications services across the country.
At the time the policy was introduced, Nigeria’s telecom sector was still largely underdeveloped, with limited access to telephone services nationwide. Since then, the sector has expanded significantly through mobile connectivity, internet services, and broadband infrastructure.
Officials involved in the current review say the 2000 framework no longer fully reflects the realities of today’s digital environment, where telecommunications infrastructure now supports cloud services, broadband connectivity, digital payments, artificial intelligence systems, cybersecurity operations, and emerging internet-based technologies.
Speaking during the workshop, NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Aminu Maida said telecommunications has evolved beyond traditional voice communication into a broader digital infrastructure platform that supports economic activities and public services.
Maida said the review is expected to help Nigeria develop policy structures capable of addressing emerging technologies and future digital infrastructure demands.
Areas expected to be considered during the review include broadband expansion, digital inclusion, satellite internet services, data governance, Internet of Things infrastructure, network resilience, infrastructure protection, and regulatory coordination across sectors.
Discussions at the workshop also referenced the growing role of telecommunications in Nigeria’s economic planning. Officials linked the sector to targets around job creation, investment growth, and government revenue generation tied to digital economy expansion.
According to reports from the event, the Federal Government is projecting up to ₦2 trillion in telecom-related revenue and as many as two million jobs through broader sector growth and digital economy development.
The review process is also expected to examine how policy reforms can support infrastructure investments, improve connectivity in underserved areas, and strengthen broadband deployment across the country.
Nigeria has continued expanding broadband and 5G infrastructure in recent years under the country’s wider digital economy strategy. The NCC has also held consultations around spectrum planning and future telecommunications infrastructure requirements.
Earlier this year, the NCC released a public consultation paper inviting stakeholders to submit recommendations on the future direction of Nigeria’s telecommunications policy framework. The document outlined several focus areas tied to regulation, infrastructure development, emerging technologies, and digital governance.
The consultation paper is available through the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Industry stakeholders participating in the review process are expected to include telecom operators, infrastructure companies, trade associations, and policy experts. Groups such as the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria are expected to contribute to discussions around infrastructure protection, industry sustainability, broadband deployment, and regulatory policies.
The review could eventually lead to the introduction of a revised National Telecommunications Policy that replaces or substantially updates the 2000 framework.
Officials at the workshop described the exercise as part of a broader effort to position telecommunications infrastructure as a foundation for Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions.
