The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on industry players and the general public to submit written contributions toward the ongoing review of the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000.
The Commission announced that stakeholders have until Friday, March 20, 2026, to forward their submissions to the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO or via the dedicated email address: [stakeholders@ncc.gov.ng](mailto:stakeholders@ncc.gov.ng). A consultation paper outlining the proposed review has already been published on the Commission’s website.
The public consultation is being conducted in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, particularly Section 24(1), which mandates a consultative process before the formulation or amendment of policies governing the communications sector.
The review process 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 drive the reassessment of the existing policy framework.
According to the NCC, the policy update will align with the Minister’s Strategic Blueprint, *Accelerating Our Collective Prosperity through Technical Efficiency*, which prioritises issues such as spectrum management, universal access, broadband expansion, net neutrality and quality of service (QoS).
The consultation marks the first stage in a multi-layered engagement process that will inform the drafting of the proposed NTP 2026, intended to replace the current policy introduced 25 years ago.
In a statement contained in the consultation paper, the NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, noted that the existing NTP 2000 has been instrumental in transforming Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape—from fewer than 500,000 active lines at inception to nearly 180 million active mobile connections as of December 2026.
He explained that the revised policy aims to address emerging realities, particularly the rising demand for data services and the broader implications of digital connectivity. Maida assured stakeholders that this initial consultation will be followed by additional engagement stages to ensure the final draft reflects diverse expertise and sector-wide input before it proceeds to statutory approval and validation.
The original NTP 2000 marked a turning point for Nigeria’s telecom industry, ushering in liberalisation, competition and modern regulatory structures under the country’s early democratic administration. It replaced the 1998 policy and laid the groundwork for the enactment of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, catalysing unprecedented growth in mobile telephony and private sector participation.
As part of the current review, the Commission has outlined 15 key policy proposals that will serve as the foundation for possible amendments. These proposals address sector regulation, sustainability, emerging technologies, national security and other critical considerations necessary to keep pace with rapid technological evolution.
The NCC emphasised that the consultation process is open to licensees, consumers, government agencies, international partners, civil society organisations and interested individuals, urging stakeholders to actively contribute to shaping the future direction of Nigeria’s communications sector.
