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NCC Hosts Virtual Forum on A2P Licensing Framework
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) held a virtual stakeholders’ forum on Friday to discuss the Application-to-Person (A2P) Licensing Framework.
The session, presided over by Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, provided a platform for industry stakeholders to deliberate on regulatory measures aimed at strengthening the growing A2P messaging ecosystem in Nigeria.
Represented by Mrs. Chizua Whyte, Acting Head of Legal & Regulatory Services at the NCC, Dr. Maida emphasized the critical role of A2P messaging in modern communication. He described it as an essential channel for businesses to send transactional, promotional, and service-related messages directly to consumers, ranging from banking alerts and healthcare notifications to marketing campaigns and government updates.
He highlighted how A2P messaging drives efficiency, supports socio-economic growth, and enhances consumer engagement.
Dr. Maida underscored the NCC’s strategic focus on three key stakeholders: the government, consumers, and the telecommunications industry.
He noted that A2P messaging facilitates effective government-to-citizen communication, ensures secure and timely updates for consumers, and fosters innovation and competition within the industry.
However, he acknowledged the challenges facing the A2P messaging landscape in Nigeria, particularly in the international segment. Issues such as fraud, spam, data privacy concerns, and imbalances in the value chain pose significant threats to its sustainability and growth.
“This forum represents a crucial step toward addressing these challenges,” Dr. Maida remarked. “The draft framework demonstrates our commitment to fostering innovation while creating a fair, transparent, and secure ecosystem for all stakeholders.”
He stressed the importance of collaboration and inclusivity in regulatory development, calling on stakeholders—including operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers, and consumers—to actively contribute to refining the framework.
The aim, he explained, is to establish a sustainable A2P messaging ecosystem that protects consumers, promotes fair competition, and unlocks new growth opportunities.
Participants at the forum commended the NCC’s proactive approach, expressing optimism that the proposed framework would address fraud, enhance consumer protection, and ensure fair value distribution across the A2P messaging value chain.
The NCC reaffirmed its commitment to driving innovation, safeguarding stakeholders, and supporting the continued growth of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
The event concluded with a call for sustained collaboration to fine-tune the framework and lay the foundation for a more secure, efficient, and inclusive A2P messaging ecosystem in Nigeria.
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