The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given interested industry stakeholders March 20 as the deadline for the ongoing review and submission of the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000.
The Head of Public Affairs at the NCC, Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ukoha said the call for submissions applies to stakeholders whose consultation paper has been published on the commission’s website.
“All submissions from stakeholders are to be addressed to the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission or sent to the dedicated email: stakeholders@ncc.gov.ng.”
She explained that the consultation process is in exercise of the commission’s functions under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, following the activation of the provisions of Section 24(1) of the Act.
According to her, the review of the NTP follows the inauguration of a Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) and a Ministerial Technical Committee (MTC).
“These committees are headed by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, to commence the process of reviewing the NTP 2000,” she said.
Ukoha added that the policy review will align with the minister’s strategic blueprint aimed at accelerating collective prosperity through technical efficiency.
“The blueprint states that the ministry will drive the review of the telecoms policy to address core issues such as spectrum management, universal access, broadband penetration, net neutrality, and quality of service.
“The consultation process and its outcome will support the work of the MSC and the Implementation Committee (IC) in producing a revised policy that meets the current challenges of the communications sector.
“It will also keep pace with the rapid and dynamic changes that have occurred since the current NTP was issued 25 years ago,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, stated in the published consultation paper that the process will lead to the development of the first draft of the NTP 2026.
Maida said this will replace the existing NTP 2000 after 25 years of implementation.
“The draft will also undergo further consultations to enable stakeholders to provide additional input before a final draft is subjected to the statutory policy approval and validation processes.
“The NTP 2000 has been instrumental in advancing Nigeria’s telecom sector over the past 25 years, growing from about 500,000 lines to nearly 180 million active mobile connections as of December 2026.”
He noted that one of the gaps the revised policy seeks to address is the increased demand for data services and its associated externalizes.
“This is the first step in the consultation process, and there will be additional layers of engagement to ensure that the final draft reflects diverse expertise, feedback, and input from a broad cross-section of stakeholders.”
Maida urged stakeholders to seize the opportunity to participate in developing a policy that will take the communications sector to the next level, building on the significant successes recorded since 2000.
He said the NTP 2000 marked a major progression from earlier policies, promoting liberalization, modernization, and competition under the then nascent democratic government.
According to him, the NTP replaced the 1998 Policy and paved the way for the growth of mobile telephony and the eventual enactment of the NCA 2003 by focusing on market deregulation and stakeholder consultation.
“In the ongoing review, there are 15 key policy proposals that form the baseline for the review and potential amendments to the existing NTP, providing both the context and policy rationale for necessary changes.
“The proposals address industry regulation, sustainability, emerging technologies, national security, among other issues,” he said.
He added that the expected feedback will guide the review and amendment of the NTP in line with the provisions of the NCA 2003.
“The consultation process is open to licensees in the Nigerian communications sector, consumers, government agencies, international organizations, partners, entities, civil society organizations, individuals, and other interested stakeholders,” he said.
