As Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and Over-the-Top (OTT) services continue to reshape global telecommunications, Nigerian industry stakeholders are calling for urgent reforms to protect the sector from obsolescence.Stakeholders, experts and policymakers, during a panel discussion at a high profile event, in Lagos, emphasised that the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), enacted in 2003, is now outdated and unfit to regulate the fast-evolving digital ecosystem.
From concerns about regulatory overreach to the need for licensing frameworks that support innovation, the message was clear: without legislative updates, Nigeria risks stifling growth, limiting investor confidence, and weakening consumer protection in its most vital infrastructure sector.
The chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, opened the panel with a powerful reflection on the early struggles of private telecom operators in Nigeria.
Recalling the dominance of NITEL before the industry was liberalized, he described how regulatory imbalance hampered progress and how the enforcement of licensing equality—pushed through by a determined regulator—finally shifted the tides.
According to Adebayo, two pressing issues require urgent attention: “The first is quality of service, which is heavily impacted by regulatory inconsistencies and interference from sub-national actors. The second is the independence of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which has recently seen its powers diluted by political oversight.”
He described a regulatory environment increasingly obstructed by local authorities. “Multiple regulation and interference by states like Kogi is now a threat to national service continuity. This isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a barrier to the sector’s growth,” he stated.
Head of Legal and Regulatory Services Department at the NCC, Chizua Whyte, echoed the urgent need for reform.
, stressing that the Act, though once progressive, is now out of sync with technological developments like over-the-top (OTT) services, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
“New technologies are outpacing our legislative frameworks. We need dedicated sections for communication offences and provisions that treat telecommunications infrastructure as critical national assets,” Whyte averred.
She also emphasised the importance of protecting infrastructure from vandalism and interference, particularly as more services are built on decentralized platforms that transcend traditional regulation.
The chief corporate services & sustainability officer, MTN Nigeria, Tobe Okigbo, advocated for a new licensing regime that would encourage experimentation among young tech entrepreneurs.
“We should consider a general authorisation framework or regulatory sandboxes that allow startups to experiment within controlled environments. The Act should also enable startups to access anonymized data held by telecoms, which could catalyze innovation,” he said.Okigbo added that without such provisions, Nigeria risks stifling its own digital economy, adding that, “In fintech, we’ve seen how enabling policies create vibrant ecosystems. The same can happen in telecoms, but only if we adapt the Act.”
Regulatory affairs associate director, IHS Towers, Damian Udeh, reinforced the view that quality of service remains a critical pain point, adding that, “This regulator has made quality of service a key performance measure. But operators can only do so much in an environment where basic utilities like power are unreliable.”
He compared Nigeria’s self-powered telecom infrastructure to that of Spain, where operators rely on a central power grid. “Here, operators are power providers, security companies, and service providers rolled into one. That increases costs and complicates service delivery,” he stated.
Despite these challenges, Udeh commended the current NCC leadership for pushing accountability and customer-centric benchmarks.
Stakeholders noted that the NCC remains a continental reference point in regulatory excellence. “Other African regulators come to Nigeria to learn. But we risk losing that leadership if we don’t keep pace with global innovation,” they warned.
As discussions concluded, the consensus among all stakeholders was that a reviewed Communications Act must guarantee regulatory independence and insulate the NCC from political interference; establish legal protections for telecom infrastructure as critical national assets; introduce flexible licensing frameworks, including sandboxes and general authorization; integrate emerging technology such as AI and OTT services into regulatory scope and mandate federal coordination to override sub-national regulatory disruptions.
The message from stakeholders was clear: the future of Nigeria’s digital economy depends not just on private sector innovation, but on a modern legal framework that empowers regulators and unlocks new opportunities for the next generation.
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