Bosun Tijani Directs NCC, NITDA and NDPC to Suspend Digital Platform Regulations Pending Policy Harmonisation
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology...
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to defer the implementation and enforcement of regulations affecting internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues pending the completion of a national policy harmonisation exercise.
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The directive was contained in a ministerial statement issued on Tuesday following a high-level strategic meeting between the Minister and the leadership of the three regulatory agencies.
Towards a Unified Digital Regulatory Framework
According to the Ministry, Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy has naturally created areas where the statutory responsibilities of multiple regulators intersect. While each institution retains clearly defined mandates under existing legislation, the growing convergence of telecommunications, artificial intelligence, digital platforms, online safety and data governance now requires a coordinated government-wide approach.
Dr. Tijani noted that effective regulatory coordination is critical to maintaining legal certainty, attracting investment, encouraging innovation, strengthening consumer confidence and sustaining Nigeria’s ambition to remain Africa’s leading digital economy.
Key Policy Directives
Following deliberations, the Minister issued the following directives:
The existing regulatory status quo will remain in effect on matters relating to internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues currently undergoing policy harmonisation under the Ministry.
The NCC, NITDA and NDPC are to defer the implementation or enforcement of any recently issued regulations, codes, frameworks, guidelines or administrative requirements relating to these areas until the harmonisation process is concluded.
Existing regulations that fall squarely within the statutory mandates of the respective agencies will continue to be implemented and enforced, provided they are consistent with the Minister’s policy direction.
The Ministry will establish a Joint Technical Coordination Committee, comprising representatives of the NCC, NITDA and NDPC under the leadership of the Office of the Honourable Minister.
Joint Committee to Lead Stakeholder Engagement
The Minister disclosed that the committee will coordinate technical engagements and undertake extensive consultations with industry players, civil society organisations, academia and other stakeholders to develop recommendations for a harmonised national policy and governance framework.
He emphasised that the exercise is not intended to diminish the statutory responsibilities of any regulator but to ensure that government speaks with one coherent voice on cross-cutting digital economy issues through a coordinated, predictable and future-ready regulatory framework.
According to the Minister, the Ministry will continue working with all relevant institutions and stakeholders to develop policies that protect citizens, foster innovation, strengthen digital trust and position Nigeria for sustained leadership in the global digital economy.
Development Follows FCCPC Investigation Directive
The latest policy directive comes less than 24 hours after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) announced that it had received presidential approval to investigate major global technology companies and generative artificial intelligence platforms operating in Nigeria over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the exploitation of news content belonging to Nigerian media organisations.
The approval was reportedly conveyed in a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
According to the FCCPC, the investigation will cover major technology companies including Meta, Alphabet (Google’s parent company), X (formerly Twitter) and several generative AI platforms operating within Nigeria.
The Minister’s intervention is widely expected to reduce regulatory overlap, improve policy coherence and provide greater certainty for investors and technology companies operating in Nigeria. It also signals the Federal Government’s commitment to building a coordinated, innovation-friendly regulatory environment capable of supporting the country’s expanding digital economy while balancing consumer protection, competition, digital trust and responsible technology governance.
