The Nigerian telecommunications industry is experiencing its most ambitious regulatory overhaul in years as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), under the leadership of Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Dr. Aminu Maida, pushes forward with transformative reforms. Since his appointment in October 2023, Maida has embarked on a mission to rebuild regulatory trust, update outdated laws, and drive digital innovation, all while navigating complex sectoral challenges.
In recent months, momentum has gathered around amendments to the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 — a long-anticipated legislative update that seeks to reflect new realities in cybersecurity, inter-agency cooperation, and technological advancement. According to Dr. Maida, the reforms aim to “strengthen regulatory efficiency, ensure transparency, and improve investor and consumer confidence in the sector.”
Maida’s regulatory style marks a noticeable shift from that of his predecessor, Isa Pantami, who served as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy from 2019 to 2023. Pantami’s tenure was characterised by headline-grabbing policies such as the national 5G rollout and the controversial National Identity Number (NIN)-SIM linkage directive. While the 5G policy unlocked new growth potential — contributing to projections that 5G will add $11 trillion to the global economy by 2035 — the NIN policy also led to over nine million mobile disconnections.
Today, Maida, working closely with Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, is adopting a more structured and innovation-driven approach. Tijani’s digital-first policies, including the 3MTT programme for mass digital upskilling and the acceleration of fibre-optic network deployment, complement Maida’s focus on regulatory clarity and institutional reform.
Central to the ongoing reforms is the effort to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework. The proposed amendments to the NCA are being reviewed to better address current risks, such as rising cyber threats, regulatory overlaps, and widespread infrastructure vandalism.
In 2023, President Bola Tinubu designated telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). However, despite the policy upgrade, telecom infrastructure continues to suffer attacks. The Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) reported that vandalism in Lagos alone caused over ₦5 billion in damages in a single year.
“We are advocating stronger enforcement clauses in the amended NCA, especially around infrastructure protection,” Maida stated recently. He also emphasized the importance of standardising Right-of-Way (RoW) charges and promoting infrastructure sharing among operators to cut costs and reduce duplication.
Despite structural and security-related obstacles, the sector’s performance remains relatively stable. NCC data shows mobile subscriptions hovering around 224 million as of May 2025, while broadband penetration reached 48.15 per cent, reflecting modest gains in connectivity access across urban and semi-urban areas.
To sustain this momentum, the NCC has begun internal restructuring aimed at boosting oversight and operational effectiveness. These changes include staff redeployment and fresh performance audits — moves that have sparked resistance from workers’ unions, who argue that the changes were abrupt and lacked due consultation.
Nonetheless, Dr. Maida remains focused on his reform mandate. “We must ensure that the Commission operates with 21st-century tools to effectively regulate a 21st-century digital economy,” he said, dismissing resistance as part of the change process.
As reforms take root across both policy and operational fronts, the Nigerian telecom sector may be poised for a new era of sustainable growth. But industry experts warn that entrenched legacy issues — including poor service quality, limited rural coverage, and regulatory bottlenecks — could undermine progress if not adequately addressed.
Still, optimism is growing that the combined efforts of Maida’s NCC and Tijani’s digital innovation agenda may finally align policy intent with market realities. If successful, these reforms could position Nigeria not only as Africa’s largest telecoms market but also as a digital economy leader on the global stage.