The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has invited industry stakeholders and the general public to submit written contributions as part of an ongoing review of Nigeria’s National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000, signalling the start of what could become the most significant policy reset in the sector in 25 years.
In a notice issued on February 18, 2026, the Commission said the consultation paper has been published on its website, with Friday, March 20, 2026 set as the deadline for submissions. Responses are to be addressed to the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer or sent via a dedicated email channel.
The review is being conducted in line with Section 24(1) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, which mandates a public consultative process before the formulation or modification of general policy for the communications sector. Under the law, the Minister is required to direct the Commission to carry out consultations prior to policy review.
The process follows the inauguration of a Ministerial Steering Committee and a Ministerial Technical Committee by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, to commence work on updating the subsisting NTP 2000.
According to the NCC, the policy review will align with the Minister’s Strategic Blueprint titled Accelerating Our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency. Key focus areas identified for the overhaul include spectrum management, universal access, broadband penetration, net neutrality, and quality of service.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said the consultation will culminate in the development of the first draft of a new National Telecommunications Policy 2026, which is expected to replace the existing framework introduced at the dawn of Nigeria’s telecom liberalisation.
Maida noted that the NTP 2000 had played a transformative role in the sector’s growth, expanding the country’s telecommunications base from about 500,000 lines in 2000 to nearly 180 million active mobile connections as of December 2026. However, he acknowledged that rising demand for data services and the broader digital economy now require a refreshed regulatory and policy approach.
“This is a first step in the consultation process and there will be other layers of engagements to ensure that the final draft accommodates varied expertise, feedback and inputs from a cross section of stakeholders,” Maida said in the published paper.
The Commission said the revised policy would address emerging technologies, industry sustainability, national security considerations, and evolving regulatory challenges. A total of 15 key policy proposals have been outlined as the baseline for potential amendments and structural changes to the current framework.
The original NTP 2000 marked a decisive shift from earlier frameworks, replacing the 1998 Policy and laying the groundwork for liberalisation, competition, and private sector participation. It also paved the way for the enactment of the NCA 2003, which institutionalised regulatory independence and market-driven growth.
With broadband expansion, 5G rollout, data consumption, and digital services now central to Nigeria’s economic ambitions, the outcome of the review is expected to shape the trajectory of the communications sector for the next decade.
The NCC said the consultation process is open to licensees, consumers, government agencies, international partners, civil society organisations and individuals, urging broad participation to ensure the new policy reflects the realities of a rapidly evolving digital landscape
