Presidency Approves NCC’s Request to Review the 2003 NCA Regulations

By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor

LAGOS — Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Usman, announced yesterday that the Federal Government has approved the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)’s proposal to review the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003.

Usman said that Nigeria cannot develop a competitive digital economy while relying on outdated telecommunications policies and weak implementation mechanisms.

She made the statement at a National Telecommunications Policy Review Workshop organized by the NCC in Lagos.

According to Usman, the review is necessary because the Information and Communications Technology sector has changed dramatically over the past two decades, affecting the economy, the tech ecosystem, security realities, and citizens’ expectations.

She noted that telecommunications now supports financial technology, digital commerce, education, healthcare, innovation, public service delivery, agriculture, and national security coordination, rather than just voice connectivity.

“A policy that was fit for purpose in the year 2000 cannot simply be assumed to remain adequate in 2026,” she said.

Usman warned that poorly coordinated policies, stemming from unclear, fragmented, and outdated laws, often weaken implementation, create institutional overlaps, discourage investment, and reduce measurable national impact.

She argued that policies should be viewed as frameworks that guide regulators, give confidence to investors, and set clear expectations for citizens, rather than merely government documents.

When policy lacks clarity, implementation becomes inconsistent, responsibilities overlap, resources are poorly targeted, and public institutions struggle to achieve measurable development outcomes.

Usman advised that the revised policy must address broadband penetration, affordability of digital access, quality of service, consumer protection, infrastructure resilience, and inclusion of underserved communities.

She also stressed the need for stronger collaboration among federal institutions, state governments, local authorities, investors, regulators, operators, and infrastructure providers to accelerate sector-wide growth.

She cautioned against treating the review as merely a regulatory exercise, emphasizing that it is a broader national development assignment linked to economic reform objectives.

Usman said the government is increasingly focused on strengthening the link between policy formulation, implementation, coordination, monitoring, and measurable delivery across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

She added that the proposed National Public Policy Development and Management Framework arrives at the right time to address those gaps through standardized processes, implementation planning, periodic evaluation, and evidence‑based governance systems.

Earlier in his opening remarks, NCC Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida said the telecommunications market had outgrown the assumptions behind the National Telecommunications Policy of 2000.

Maida explained that the policy was introduced when Nigeria’s priority was liberalisation, increased access, competition, and private sector participation in telecommunications services.

He said the sector has since evolved from basic connectivity into a major digital ecosystem that supports banking, commerce, education, entertainment, cloud services, digital identity, and government operations.

Maida added that the industry has moved into a new era shaped by advanced technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, satellite broadband, cloud infrastructure, the Internet of Things, and cybersecurity regulation.

“This is no longer a narrow telecommunications conversation. It is no longer just one sector within the economy; it is a productivity infrastructure for the entire economy,” he said.

Maida noted that the review of the telecommunications policy is necessary to preserve competition, universal access, consumer protection, and independent regulation while supporting innovation and investment.

He said the revised framework must also address long‑standing structural challenges, including fibre cuts, vandalism, high energy costs, multiple taxation, permitting delays, and rural connectivity gaps.

According to Maida, those challenges have become national development concerns because they affect the quality, resilience, and reach of digital services across the economy.

He said the workshop was designed to review the implementation of the existing policy, identify gaps, engage stakeholders on reform proposals, and develop recommendations for a new National Telecommunications Policy 2026.

The NCC boss said the commission aims to develop a modern policy framework capable of supporting innovation, protecting consumers, improving quality of experience, strengthening investment, and advancing Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions.

He urged stakeholders to approach the review process with openness, innovation, and a shared commitment toward strengthening Nigeria’s position as a leading digital economy in Africa.

The post Presidency approves NCC’s bid to review NCA 2003 appeared first on Vanguard News.