Nigeria’s telecoms regulator has begun a comprehensive review of the country’s 26-year-old telecommunications policy, citing the need to align the framework with the realities of a rapidly evolving digital economy.

Speaking on Wednesday at the National Telecommunications Policy Review Workshop in Lagos, Hadiza Usman, special adviser to the president on policy and coordination, said the existing policy, introduced in 2000, no longer reflects current economic, technological, and security realities.

“A policy that was fit for purpose in the year 2000 cannot simply be assumed to remain adequate in 2026,” Usman said.

She noted that telecommunications has evolved far beyond voice services and now serves as critical infrastructure underpinning financial technology, digital commerce, education, healthcare, agriculture, innovation, public service delivery, and national security operations.

“Telecommunications is no longer a standalone sector. It is an enabling platform for almost every other sector of national life,” she added.

Usman warned that outdated or poorly coordinated policies could weaken implementation, discourage investment, create institutional overlaps, and limit measurable national impact.

According to her, the revised framework is expected to address key industry challenges, including broadband penetration, affordability of digital access, quality of service, infrastructure resilience, consumer protection, and inclusion of underserved communities.

“The revised policy must not become another document that sits on shelves. It must become a working instrument,” she said.

She also identified persistent infrastructure challenges slowing network expansion across the country, including fibre cuts, vandalism, multiple taxation, delayed approvals, right-of-way bottlenecks, insecurity, and rising energy costs.

Usman said addressing the challenges would require stronger coordination among federal and state governments, regulators, telecom operators, investors, and infrastructure providers.

Earlier, Aminu Maida, executive vice-chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said the telecommunications sector had significantly outgrown the assumptions behind the National Telecommunications Policy introduced in 2000.

According to Maida, the policy was developed during a period when Nigeria’s primary focus was sector liberalisation, increased competition, expanded access, and private sector participation in telecom services.

He said the industry has since transformed into a broader digital ecosystem supporting banking, commerce, education, entertainment, cloud services, digital identity systems, and government operations.

“This is no longer a narrow telecommunications conversation. It is no longer just one sector within the economy; it is a productivity infrastructure for the entire economy,” Maida said.

He added that emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, satellite broadband, cloud infrastructure, the Internet of Things (IoT), and evolving cybersecurity regulations have further reshaped the sector.

Maida said the policy review would also address structural challenges, including rural connectivity gaps, multiple taxation, vandalism, high energy costs, fibre cuts, and delays in obtaining permits for infrastructure deployment.

“The commission aims to develop a modern policy framework capable of supporting innovation, protecting consumers, improving quality of experience, strengthening investment, and advancing Nigeria’s digital economy ambitions,” he said.

According to the NCC boss, the workshop was convened to assess the implementation of the existing policy, identify gaps, engage stakeholders, and develop recommendations for a new National Telecommunications Policy for 2026.