The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has showcased Nigeria’s telecommunications reforms and digital governance initiatives at the 2026 Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR), organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Ankara, Türkiye.
The annual gathering brought together telecommunications regulators, policymakers and industry leaders from across the world to exchange ideas on emerging regulatory challenges, digital transformation and the future of telecommunications governance.
Speaking during a panel session titled “Harnessing the Power of Transformative Tech: Regulatory Approaches,” Maida said Nigeria is building a regulatory framework that prioritises transparency, accountability and data-driven decision-making to improve consumer outcomes and support digital economy growth.
He noted that the NCC is transitioning from traditional data collection to data intelligence, leveraging information to empower consumers, improve regulatory oversight and hold service providers more accountable.
According to him, initiatives such as the Commission’s Public Maps, industry statistics publications, Quarterly Network Performance Reports and simplified reporting frameworks are helping consumers better understand the quality of telecommunications services available to them while promoting greater transparency across the sector.
Maida joined a panel of global telecommunications regulators and industry experts, including the President of Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL), Carlos Manuel Baigorri; Director-General of Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Philip Marnick; and Donna Bethea-Murphy of Viasat Inc., to discuss how regulatory institutions can adapt to rapidly evolving technologies and digital ecosystems.
The symposium also adopted the 2026 Best Practice Guidelines: Regulatory Governance Essentials, a framework developed by the ITU to help regulators strengthen governance and respond effectively to increasingly complex digital markets.
During the Regulators’ Roundtable, Maida outlined several priorities shaping Nigeria’s regulatory agenda. These include strengthening transparency and accountability within the internet ecosystem through the NCC’s Internet Code of Practice, enhancing sector-wide cybersecurity through the Commission’s Cyber Resilience Framework, and deepening collaboration with other public institutions to ensure a coordinated approach to digital market governance.
He further highlighted efforts to create an incentive-based telecommunications market through spectrum management and infrastructure policies designed to encourage investment, expand connectivity and support innovation.
The NCC has in recent years intensified its focus on data-driven regulation, consumer protection and quality-of-service monitoring. Through partnerships and regulatory initiatives, the Commission has sought to improve network performance transparency, strengthen cybersecurity resilience and promote responsible conduct across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
The Global Symposium for Regulators is regarded as one of the telecommunications industry’s foremost policy forums, providing a platform for regulators worldwide to share experiences, develop best practices and shape the future of digital regulation.
