Omo‑Ettu Marks Historic Moment with New Telecom Policy

History offers a modest lesson: by understanding our past, we can better endure the present and shape the future.

It reveals who we are and the forces that have molded us. History is unyielding; it casts unflattering portraits of bad leaders and honors those who deserve recognition. In every sphere, the value of history is unquestionable.

When the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) convened a two‑day stakeholder meeting on 20 May 2026 to review the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000, Engr Titi Omo‑Ettu arrived armed with historical insight. He demonstrated how looking back can help manage expectations and build a technology future that positions Nigeria strongly among nations.

Even in telecommunications, as in any field, history is essential to orient ourselves and dispel ignorance. Ignorance can be costly. For example, a young employee in a respected private firm may not know that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar once served as Vice President of Nigeria. A science degree does not shield one from such gaps in knowledge.

History can be unsettling, which is why it was once removed from the curriculum. As a former NITEL engineer, Omo‑Ettu was well placed to narrate the nation’s telecom story and warn of emerging challenges.

“The main issue today is not whether Nigerians can communicate, but whether all Nigerians can participate meaningfully and productively in the digital economy,” he said.

Although he could not present his paper in full, he shared it with us. Like many, he believes the NTP 2000 was designed to address industry problems of its time but is now inadequate for new technological challenges.

He described two distinct eras: the period of state monopoly and scarce infrastructure, and the current era of digital expansion and liberalised competition.

According to Omo‑Ettu, “Nigeria’s telecommunications journey has passed through two clearly distinct historical phases: the era of state monopoly and infrastructure scarcity, and the present era of digital expansion and liberalised competition.”

He explained that measures taken to reverse industry backwardness—such as the establishment of the Nigerian Communications Commission in 1992, the National Telecommunications Policy of 2000, and the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003—created a modern industry. “Together, these reforms dismantled the old monopoly structure, introduced competition, attracted investment, and laid the foundation for Nigeria’s digital transformation,” he added.

While these reforms solved many past problems, they also introduced a new generation of challenges that are more complex and closely tied to national development.

There is little that is instructive about the industry’s past other than that its resolution has produced a better industry.

“Telephone penetration was extremely low. In many cases, obtaining a telephone line could take months or even years — when it happened at all. Fixed‑line infrastructure was concentrated in a few urban centres, while vast rural communities remained almost entirely disconnected,” Omo‑Ettu recalled.

He is right. Even our children would be amazed to learn that we once had to wait over six months for a telephone line or that an entire city had to travel to a handful of NITEL offices to place an international call. The infrastructure deficiency was extreme, and we have never been accustomed to solving even simple problems.

Reality, however, is stronger than myth. It confronts us daily on the street and at home, where we must choose between school fees and food for our children.

The reality of the past was soon overtaken by new aspirations. The liberalised era introduced multiple operators whose investments opened up the industry and put phones in the hands of millions. From a miserable figure of 500,000 lines for a population of about 120 million, the nation now boasts over 185 million mobile lines, many of which operate from devices with more capacity than a fully equipped business centre in the days of the dodos.

Omo‑Ettu acknowledged this development, saying, “Today, a handheld mobile device possesses more communication capacity than entire institutional systems available in Nigeria barely three decades ago.”

The flip side of history is that it can be distracting. It can pull attention away from reality and focus on past failures or successes, making aspirational decision‑making unclear or unnecessary. Omo‑Ettu cautions against falling into either trap.

He argues that any new policy should recognise that present development has created a digital divide, with city dwellers far ahead of their rural counterparts who suffer social exclusion. While city dwellers still face capacity limitations and infrastructure deficits, rural communities are more distressed overall.

Although Omo‑Ettu admits that Nigeria has moved from the problem of “telephone access” to the broader challenge of “inclusive digital participation,” he also notes that yesterday’s policies were designed mainly to expand networks, while today’s policies must focus on expanding opportunity, productivity, and inclusion through networks.

Omo‑Ettu proposes that any new policy review consider the following: treat broadband infrastructure as critical national infrastructure; address right‑of‑way and multiple taxation challenges; deepen rural connectivity and universal access; prioritise indigenous capacity development; integrate energy planning with digital infrastructure planning; elevate digital literacy to a national development priority; and prepare for emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, Internet of Things systems, satellite broadband, digital identity systems, data governance, and cybersecurity regulation.

He concludes his document by stating that “the objective is no longer simply connectivity. It is now the creation of an inclusive digital society in which infrastructure, affordability, skills, security and innovation combine to support national productivity and human development.”

While we thank the NCC for allowing stakeholders to participate in its processes, we suggest that the regulator considers Omo‑Ettu’s document, recognising that the new policy must capture the speed of new technologies to remain relevant in a world where the speed of sound has long been surpassed.

The post For Omo‑Ettu, a slice of history for a new telecom policy, by Okoh Aihe appeared first on Vanguard News.