NCC Launches Annual Attorneys-General Workshop to Boost Digital Regulation, Legal Collaboration

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially launched its first Annual Workshop for Attorneys-General, bringing together top legal officers from across Nigeria to enhance regulatory cooperation and advance the nation’s digital transformation.

Held at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, the event was opened by Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, who stressed the critical need for stronger partnerships between legal experts and regulators.

Dr. Maida declared, “Collaboration is not optional—it is essential,” highlighting the workshop’s role in driving reforms to modernize the outdated Nigerian Communications Act of 2003, highlighting key discussion areas to include AI governance, 5G deployment, and enhanced data protection laws.

In his keynote address, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, commended the NCC for fostering critical dialogue. He emphasized the need for legal clarity to tackle issues like multiple taxation, regulatory overlaps, and infrastructure vandalism—citing the 2023 Kano base station attacks and Ogun State tax disputes as major setbacks.

Chief Fagbemi also highlighted Anambra State’s progressive Right-of-Way policy, which boosted fibre optic deployment by 38%, urging other states to adopt similar measures.

A major milestone at the workshop was the reaffirmation of telecom networks as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2024 Executive Order. This designation mandates stronger legal safeguards and enhanced protection for telecom assets.

The NCC confirmed that the workshop will now be a yearly event, serving as a hub for addressing emerging challenges such as cybersecurity, consumer rights, and regulatory advancements.

As Nigeria accelerates its digital revolution, this collaboration between legal and regulatory stakeholders marks a decisive move toward a more inclusive, secure, and forward-looking telecom sector.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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