The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged closer collaboration between legal institutions and regulatory bodies to advance Nigeria’s digital transformation, as it hosted the maiden edition of its Annual Workshop for Attorneys-General in Lagos.
In his opening remarks at the event held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, emphasized the importance of regulatory synergy in navigating the rapidly changing communications landscape.
He described the workshop as a landmark initiative aimed at deepening cooperation between the legal community and the regulatory architecture shaping the nation’s digital future.
Welcoming attendees, Dr. Maida expressed gratitude to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, noting that his presence underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to institutional coordination and policy alignment.
He stated that the communications sector remains a cornerstone of innovation, economic growth, and national inclusion. However, he warned that to unlock its full potential, Nigeria must confront several challenges spanning legal, fiscal, and operational dimensions.
According to him, Attorneys-General have a crucial role in this effort, not just as Chief Law Officers of their states, but as key influencers in shaping legal frameworks that promote fairness, accountability, and long-term development.
Tracing the evolution of communications regulation in Nigeria from the early 2000s to the present, Dr. Maida noted that the sector has moved through phases of market liberalisation, infrastructure expansion, consumer protection, and now into more advanced areas such as artificial intelligence governance, digital resilience, and sustainable connectivity.
He said that throughout this journey, one principle has remained clear: collaborative, forward-thinking regulation is essential to sustaining innovation and inclusive digital growth.
The workshop, he said, was structured to tackle some of the most pressing issues affecting the sector today.
These include a review of the Nigerian Communications Act of 2003 to assess its relevance in the digital age, the harmonisation of taxes in the sector to remove growth-inhibiting inconsistencies, and the resolution of overlapping regulatory mandates which often lead to confusion and inefficiency.
He also highlighted the need to operationalize the recent Executive Order by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which designates communications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure.
This, he explained, requires active collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation.
Dr. Maida noted that as Nigeria adopts emerging technologies such as AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and high-speed connectivity, the complexity of regulatory challenges will deepen, but so will the opportunities.
He called for a unified national approach that leverages the strengths of institutions across both federal and state levels.
The NCC, he affirmed, is committed to aligning its regulatory activities with broader national development goals and sees the Attorneys-General as vital partners in shaping an enabling legal environment where technology and governance work hand-in-hand.
He expressed confidence that the workshop would grow into a permanent fixture for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative problem-solving.
According to him, the interactions and recommendations from the forum will pave the way for
