By Okoh Aihe
The telecommunications industry opened with a bang in early 2000 after a snail-walk in the previous years of political uncertainties and economic decisions that were at best tentative. The industry was not only deregulated but phone ownership was so democratized that the development mocked previous assertions that telephones were for the rich.
It was the birth of global system for mobile communications (GSM) and the small receive terminals or equipment that one could easily tuck in a shirt pocket. It was the dawn of a new technology and Nigeria wasn’t going to be missing in the roll call although belatedly.
But only a few people knew the amount of work that was done in a new telecommunications policy that would create a new pathway for an industry that would immediately turn into a winning formular for the nation. A policy that would define the form and structure and, in fact, define the landmarks for the bold ones that would become pathfinders in an industry that would soon attract the envy of the business community.
Painting the picture of the time in a Consultation Paper, Dr Aminu Maida, EVC, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said the National Telecommunications Policy 2000 (NTP) marked a major progression from older policies, aiming for liberalization, modernization, and competition under then nascent democratic government. The NTP replaced the 1998 Policy and successfully paved the way for the growth of mobile telephony and the eventual Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003 by focusing on market deregulation and stakeholder consultation.’’
The result was an exponential growth – an industry of 177,426,286 subscribers, 144,787,281 internet subscriptions, a teledensity of 84.82 percent and a broadband penetration of 50.58 percent with a total industry investment of over $75bn.
The regulator has acknowledged the transformative powers of the NTP 2000 which nearly hit a climax with the introduction of 4G and a much senior edition, 5G. But all that now is history. Unfortunately, the policy that was a catalyst for change and growth has become a caricature of the overwhelming realities in the sector which need urgent attention.
After 25 years and with the avalanche of industry growth, the NTP 2000 offers very little for the future; it has suddenly become antiquated and too constrictive to accommodate the ever-expanding wave of growth in the sector.
The language of growth has changed. It is about 4G and 5G, it is about broadband coverage and connectivity, digital economy and a digital inclusion that leaves nobody behind irrespective of location and status. And above all that, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is threatening an intrusive dominance never before known in human history.
Really, the relevance of the NTP 2000 has expired a long time ago but was only being sustained by a euphoric sense of achievement in the industry that matters little today in the face of technological development globally.
For instance, one of the short-term objectives of the NTP 2000 is to provide at least 1,200,000 mobile lines in two years. Nobody would have the stomach to believe now that this was a major issue once upon a time. What did you expect in country that had about 500,000 connected lines for decades!
The situation has got to change. Urgently. So, following the provisions of the Communications Act 2003, the NCC has published a Consultation Paper on its website: www.ncc.gov.ng. This is what Section 24 (1) of the Act says: ‘’Prior to the formulation or review of the general policy for the Nigerian communications sector, the Minister shall cause the Commission on his behalf to first carry out a public consultative process on the proposed policy formulation or modification.’’
In activating the process, the Minister, Dr Bosun Tijani, has done his bit and the NCC is also now doing its bit. The Consultation Paper identifies 15 Policy Proposals needing the urgent attention of industry stakeholders. They include: Objectives, Industry Structure, Competition Policy, Manpower and Capacity Development to replace Restructuring and Privation, Economic Regulation, Internet to accommodate Online Safety and Internet Exchange Protocols, among others, Satellite Communications, Universal Access including sustainable funding for the Universal Service Provision Fund, Financing and Funding, Research and Development, Domestic Hardware refocused to Local Content Development and Indigenous Participation, Safety and National Security, International Cooperation, Policy Implementation and Review, and Broadband Objectives and Critical National Infrastructure.
The various committees have done a great job; sometimes shredding chapters and serving up its content for the intervention of stakeholders with requisite and relevant knowledge to make contributions to the process of making a new policy that can take the industry on an accelerator.
For instance, Policy Proposal 15 on ‘Broadband Objectives, Critical National Infrastructure Protection, Harmonization of Right of Ways (RoWs) across the tiers of government and One-Stop permitting process for the Communications Sector within the Federal, State and Local Government in Nigeria, is a fresh chapter introduced to trap emerging developments in the industry.
The Proposal rightly says ‘’The Policy Impact Analysis (PIA) conducted by the Ministerial Technical Committee (MTC) has shown several gaps on broadband, harmonization of permits and approvals, protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII). Therefore, this new Chapter is intended to closely identify gaps and enhance the Policy’s effectiveness.’’
Homogenized by the Act to produce a document that can accelerate growth in the telecommunications sector, both the Ministry and the Commission are decided that there will be no sidekicks or underhand dealings in the performance of their responsibility and have invited stakeholders to take ownership of the process as well.
The review process, according to the Commission, is open to licensees in the Nigerian Communications sector, consumers, agencies of government, international agencies/partners/entities, Civil Society Organisations (CSO), Individuals and other interested stakeholders.
Maida said the Consultation process will lead to the development of the First Draft of the National Telecommunications Policy 2026, which is expected to replace the year 2000 edition after further consultations.
An auspicious opportunity has been offered stakeholders to be part of an all-important process. The window closes on Friday, March 20, 2026. The telecommunications industry offers so much to the nation and every little glitch attracts concerns from stakeholders. The review process presents a much-needed opportunity to address these issues. Otherwise, there may be no need to complain when the deed is done or after the new Policy is operationalized.
