The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has invited industry stakeholders and the general public to submit written contributions toward the ongoing review of the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000.
In a statement issued by the Commission’s Head of Public Affairs, Nnenna Ukoha, the NCC disclosed that a consultation paper on the policy review has been published on its official website. Stakeholders are required to forward their submissions to the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission or via a dedicated email address. The deadline for all submissions has been fixed for Friday, March 20, 2026.
The consultation exercise is being conducted in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, specifically Section 24(1), which mandates public consultation before the formulation or review of policies governing the Nigerian communications sector. The process represents the first phase of a broader public engagement aimed at guiding the review of the existing NTP, which has been in force for 25 years.
The policy review follows the inauguration of a Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) and a Ministerial Technical Committee (MTC) by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to oversee the review process.
The revised policy will also align with the Minister’s Strategic Blueprint, titled “Accelerating Our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency,” which prioritises key sectoral issues such as spectrum management, universal access, broadband penetration, net neutrality, and quality of service (QoS).
Speaking in the consultation paper, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, said the process would culminate in the drafting of a new NTP 2026, to replace the NTP 2000. He noted that the draft policy would undergo additional consultations before being subjected to statutory approval and validation.
Maida highlighted that the NTP 2000 played a critical role in transforming Nigeria’s telecom sector from about 500,000 telephone lines to nearly 180 million active mobile connections. He urged stakeholders—including licensees, consumers, government agencies, civil society organisations, and international partners—to actively participate in shaping a policy framework capable of addressing emerging technologies, sustainability, national security, and the evolving demands of the communications sector.
