Abuja – February 18, 2026: The Nigerian Communications Commission has set March 20 as the deadline for stakeholders to submit feedback as part of the ongoing review of the National Telecommunications Policy 2000.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the NCC’s Head of Public Affairs confirmed that stakeholders whose consultation paper has been published on the Commission’s website are invited to submit their contributions. Submissions are to be addressed to the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission or sent via the dedicated email channel.
The review process is being conducted in line with the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, following the activation of Section 24(1) of the Act. It also follows the inauguration of a Ministerial Steering Committee and a Ministerial Technical Committee, both chaired by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, to oversee the review of the 25-year-old policy.
The revised framework aims to align with the Ministry’s strategic blueprint focused on accelerating collective prosperity through technical efficiency. Key areas under review include spectrum management, universal access, broadband penetration, net neutrality, and quality of service.
According to the Commission, the consultation process will support the work of the Ministerial Steering Committee and the Implementation Committee in developing a modernised policy framework capable of addressing the evolving demands of the communications sector. The outcome of this phase will lead to the first draft of the National Telecommunications Policy 2026, which will eventually replace the existing 2000 policy after further rounds of consultation and statutory approval.
The NCC noted that the current policy has played a foundational role in transforming Nigeria’s telecom landscape, helping expand the market from approximately 500,000 telephone lines to nearly 180 million active mobile connections over 25 years. However, the increasing demand for data services, emerging technologies, sustainability concerns, and national security considerations now require a comprehensive policy update.
The draft policy will be built around 15 key proposals that address regulatory structure, industry sustainability, innovation, and evolving digital ecosystem challenges. The Commission has encouraged broad participation from licensees, consumers, government agencies, international partners, civil society organisations, and other interested stakeholders to ensure the revised framework reflects diverse expertise and sector realities.
