The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a draft regulatory framework aimed at combating fraud, spam, and privacy concerns in Nigeria’s booming Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging sector.
A2P messaging, commonly used for bank alerts, promotional messages, and government notifications, plays a crucial role in digital communication. However, the sector has faced increasing consumer protection challenges, including fraudulent messages, spam, and data privacy breaches.
NCC’s Plan to Secure A2P Messaging
Announcing the draft framework during a virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, Aminu Maida, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, represented by Chizua Whyte, Acting Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, highlighted the need for regulation to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability across the messaging ecosystem.
“The international A2P messaging space in Nigeria has gaps that have allowed issues like fraud and spam to thrive. These challenges threaten consumer trust and the sustainable growth of the sector,” the NCC stated.
The proposed framework aims to:
- Protect consumers from fraudulent and spam messages
- Ensure fair competition among telecom operators, aggregators, and service providers
- Hold messaging service providers accountable for security and transparency
Consumer Protection at the Forefront
The NCC emphasized that the framework will not stifle innovation but will rather create a secure and fair environment for businesses, consumers, and service providers.
“This forum marks a pivotal step in addressing these concerns. We are engaging with all stakeholders—operators, businesses, and consumers—to refine the framework and ensure it serves the entire messaging ecosystem,” the commission noted.
The NCC urged stakeholders to collaborate in shaping the final regulations, reinforcing its commitment to consumer protection and a more secure telecom space.
