Nigeria is rewriting the foundational policy document that shaped its entire telecommunications sector, as the country’s regulator moves to modernise a framework last updated a quarter of a century ago.
The Nigerian Communications Commission NCC has proposed NTP 2026 as a replacement for the National Telecom Policy 2000, covering 15 proposed updates across spectrum management, infrastructure protection, tariff regulation, consumer rights, and digital governance.
The original NTP 2000 was created when Nigeria had approximately 500,000 fixed phone lines, mobile phones were rare, and the internet was a new concept for many. It ended the government’s telecom monopoly, established the NCC as an independent regulator, and allowed MTN, Econet, now Airtel, and Globacom to begin operating in 2001 and 2002.
The transformation that followed has been substantial. By Q3 2025, the telecom sector contributed 7.67% to Nigeria’s GDP.
A central focus of the new policy is protecting physical network assets. Nigeria recorded 19,384 fibre cuts in 2025, averaging 53 per day. In Q1 2026 alone, there were 5,934 fibre cuts. Telecom expert Kehinde Aluko captured the situation plainly: “They are building in the day, and vandals are stripping the towers at night.”
The NTP 2026 proposes classifying telecom assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure, a legal designation that would mean tougher penalties for vandalism and theft, and requires improved coordination among operators, security agencies, and state governments.
The policy overhaul also signals Nigeria’s long-term ambitions. The NCC has indicated that investments currently being made must keep the country competitive as global networks move toward 6G — a horizon that will require both regulatory modernisation and sustained capital commitment from operators.
The NCC presented its proposed changes at a workshop in Lagos. A final policy is expected before the end of 2026.
Go to TECHTRENDSKE.co.ke for more tech and business news from the African continent and across the world.
Follow us on WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter, and Facebook, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter to ensure you don’t miss out on any future updates. Send tips to editorial@techtrendsmedia.com
