By 
NCC Opens Public Consultation on Telecoms Policy Review
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on industry stakeholders and the general public to submit written contributions toward the ongoing review of the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000.
RELATED: NCC moves to overhaul Nigeria’s 2000 telecom policy as GSM legacy, policy gaps test Africa’s largest market
The Commission announced that the consultation paper for the policy review is now available on its official website, marking the formal commencement of the public engagement phase.
Submission Deadline and Process
According to the NCC, all submissions must be received on or before Friday, March 20, 2026. Stakeholders are required to address their inputs to the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission or submit them electronically via [email protected].
The consultation exercise is being conducted pursuant to the Commission’s statutory responsibilities under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, specifically Section 24(1), which mandates public consultation prior to the formulation or review of policies governing Nigeria’s communications sector.
Ministerial Committees Drive Policy Review
The review of the NTP 2000 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.
These committees are tasked with overseeing and coordinating the policy review process to ensure that Nigeria’s telecommunications framework reflects current realities and future demands of the digital economy.
Aligning with Nigeria’s Digital Economy Vision
The revised telecommunications policy is expected to align with the Minister’s Strategic Blueprint – “Accelerating Our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency.” Key focus areas outlined for the review include:
- Spectrum management
- Universal access and broadband penetration
- Net neutrality
- Quality of Service (QoS)
- Emerging technologies and sector sustainability
The consultation outcomes will support the work of the MSC and the Implementation Committee in delivering a modernised policy that responds to the rapid evolution of the communications sector since the NTP was introduced 25 years ago.
NCC Targets NTP 2026 to Replace NTP 2000
In the published consultation paper, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, said the process would culminate in the drafting of NTP 2026. This will replace the existing NTP 2000 after a quarter-century of implementation.
He explained that the draft policy would undergo additional rounds of stakeholder engagement before being subjected to statutory approval and validation processes.
Maida
“The NTP 2000 has been instrumental in advancing Nigeria’s telecom sector from about 500,000 telephone lines to nearly 180 million active mobile connections as of December 2026. One of the key gaps the revised policy seeks to address is the growing demand for data services and the externalities associated with it,” Maida said.
Broad Stakeholder Participation Encouraged
Maida described the current consultation as the first layer of engagement. He noted that additional forums would be organised to ensure the final policy reflects diverse expertise and perspectives.
He urged stakeholders to craft a forward-looking policy that will steer Nigeria’s communications sector into its next growth phase. Their engagement is essential to crafting regulations that support innovation, investment, and the industry’s long-term competitiveness.
Participation in the consultation is open to telecom licensees, consumers, government agencies,and international partners. Others are civil society organisations, industry experts, and interested members of the public.
Building on the Legacy of NTP 2000
Introduced in 2000, the NTP marked a major shift from earlier frameworks. Unlike those before it, the 2000 framework promotes liberalisation, competition, and private-sector participation under Nigeria’s democratic governance. It replaced the 1998 telecoms policy, laid the foundation for mobile telephony expansion and eventual enactment of the NCA 2003.
The ongoing review is anchored on 15 key policy proposals. It covers regulation, sustainability, emerging technologies, and national security considerations. All of these together form the baseline for updating the policy to meet today’s challenges.
