Stakeholders at the gathered on Tuesday for a Colloquium organised in Lagos by the Nigeria House of Representative (HoR) have enumerated innumerable needs to an urgent review of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which they say do not capture current global technology evolutions.
Aside granting more powers to the regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), participants made up of civil society players, lawmakers, media and other industry actors called for the evaluation of the relevance of the Act in today’s fast-changing digital landscape.
The theme of the colloquium was “The Nigerian Communications Act 2003: 22 Years After — Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions for a Digital Nigeria”.
Speaking at the event, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Communications, Peter Ohiozojeh Akpatason, said that the colloquium aims to among others; – Review the impact of the Nigerian Communication Act 2003 on the Nigerian telecommunications sector.
He listed some of terms that are driving the review to include:
- Revaluating regulatory frameworks and their impact on competition and innovation.
- Emerging technologies and their potential applications in Nigeria.
- Digital inclusion and access to telecommunications services.
- Cybersecurity and data protection in the digital age.
He noted that these formed reasons to engage stakeholders and provide a platform for them to share experiences, insights, and recommendations. With a view to:
- Identifying areas for improvement in the Act.
- Develop strategies for promoting digital growth and innovation.
- Foster collaboration among industry stakeholders.
- Review the impact of the Nigerian Communication Act 2003 on our telecommunications sector.
- Identify challenges and opportunities arising from technological advancements and changing market dynamics.
- Discuss future directions for a Digital Nigeria, leveraging insights from industry experts and stakeholders.
He hinted on areas for consideration to include cybersecurity, infrastructure, emerging technologies, skills development, regulation, e-commerce, among others.
In his opening remark, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC had noted that the 2003 Act was a transformative framework that unlocked the potential of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Dr. Maida added that these milestones are a testament to the vision of the Act’s framers, the resilience of industry players, and the trust of Nigerian consumers.
“They reflect the power of collaboration between the legislature, regulator, operators, and stakeholders in building a sector that has become a global model for telecommunications liberalization in emerging markets.
He added that the Act enabled key innovations such as mobile banking, e-commerce, e-learning, and digital communication that transformed the way Nigerians live and work.
Maida noted that despite these gains, it continues to face mounting challenges, ranging from limited rural connectivity and high right-of-way (RoW) costs to rising cybersecurity threats and the need to prepare for technologies like 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing.
“The global telecommunications industry is currently undergoing a seismic shift, driven by disruptive technologies such as 5G networks, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, Internet of Things, blockchain,” the NCC EVC observed.
Highlighting the need for a review of the 2003 Act, Maida said: “These advancements promise unprecedented opportunities, but also pose complex challenges in Nigeria. While urban centers enjoy robust connectivity, rural and underserved communities still grapple with limited access, highlighting the persistent Digital Divide infrastructure deficits, including inadequate power supply and the high cost of right of way approvals, to mention a few, hinder the expansion of our digital infrastructure.”
The Chairman of the Association of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, in his submission noted the need to strengthen the NCA 2003 to ensure that are insulated from local laws and policies of State governments that tend to conflict with federal policies and telecom development. He pointed to the negative effect of shutting down telecom cell sites, vandalism, harassment of site workers and disregard for the Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) status of telecom infrastructure in States.
Adebayo also called for provision to protect the independence of the regulator and its policies.
