With emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and Over-the-Top (OTT) services rapidly transforming the global telecom landscape, Nigerian stakeholders are calling for urgent reforms to modernize the country’s regulatory framework and protect its telecom industry from stagnation.
At a recent high-level forum held in Lagos, industry leaders, legal experts, and policymakers agreed that the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) of 2003 is no longer adequate to govern a sector that now underpins everything from finance to national security.
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), opened the discussions by recalling the early days of deregulation and the uphill battle private operators faced under the shadow of NITEL. He emphasized that today’s major challenges stem from outdated legislation and rising interference from state-level authorities.
“Service quality is suffering because of regulatory inconsistencies and local-level disruptions,” Adebayo said. “States like Kogi are imposing multiple taxes and erecting barriers that threaten service continuity across the country.”
He also expressed concern over the diminishing independence of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), warning that political interference could derail regulatory effectiveness.
Chizua Whyte, Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC, echoed these concerns. She stressed the need to overhaul the NCA to reflect the realities of today’s tech-driven world.
“Our laws haven’t caught up with technologies like OTT services and AI,” she said. “We need comprehensive provisions for communication offences and laws that classify telecom infrastructure as critical national assets.”
Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Nigeria, urged for the introduction of flexible regulatory tools like general authorization and sandbox environments, which would allow startups to experiment and innovate without unnecessary red tape.
“If we don’t enable innovation, we’ll end up stifling our digital economy. Startups need access to anonymized telecom data and room to grow within safe regulatory boundaries,” Okigbo explained.
Damian Udeh, Regulatory Affairs Associate Director at IHS Towers, highlighted the unique burden Nigerian telecom operators face. Unlike counterparts in other countries, he noted, Nigerian firms often supply their own electricity, security, and maintenance—costs that significantly affect quality of service.
“In Spain, operators plug into a national grid. In Nigeria, we’re doing everything ourselves. This isn’t sustainable,” Udeh said, though he praised the NCC’s current leadership for pushing performance standards and customer-focused policies.
Despite the sector’s challenges, stakeholders acknowledged the NCC’s reputation as a model regulator across Africa. However, they warned that Nigeria risks losing its leadership status if legal and policy frameworks are not urgently updated.
The forum concluded with a unified call for a comprehensive review of the NCA. Key priorities include strengthening the NCC’s independence, enshrining protections for telecom infrastructure, adapting licensing to encourage innovation, integrating emerging technologies into regulation, and curbing interference by sub-national governments.
As Nigeria navigates its digital future, participants stressed that success will require not just private sector ingenuity but a modernized legal framework capable of supporting rapid technological change.
