The Federal Government has directed agencies under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to adopt a unified regulatory approach on internet platforms, online intermediaries and other cross-cutting digital economy issues while work begins on a harmonised national policy framework.
The directive, issued by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, instructs regulators to maintain the current regulatory status quo on issues involving internet platforms pending the completion of an inter-agency harmonisation process. The move follows a high-level meeting involving the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
According to the minister, the rapid growth of Nigeria’s digital economy has created areas where the responsibilities of regulators increasingly overlap, particularly in telecommunications, artificial intelligence, online safety, digital platforms and data governance. He said a coordinated regulatory approach is necessary to provide legal certainty, encourage investment, support innovation and strengthen consumer confidence.
As part of the directive, agencies have been asked to suspend the implementation or enforcement of recently introduced regulations, guidelines or administrative requirements relating to internet platforms and other issues currently under review. However, provisions that fall squarely within each agency’s existing legal mandate will remain enforceable, provided they align with the ministry’s policy direction.
To drive the harmonisation process, the ministry will establish a Joint Technical Coordination Committee comprising representatives of the NCC, NITDA and NDPC under the minister’s office. The committee will coordinate technical discussions, engage industry players, civil society and academia, and develop recommendations for a unified governance framework.
Tijani said the objective is not to weaken the statutory powers of any regulator but to ensure government presents a consistent position on digital economy issues. He added that the proposed framework will clearly define institutional responsibilities, reduce regulatory overlaps, improve compliance certainty, boost investor confidence and support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming Africa’s leading digital economy.
