NCC Unveils Regulatory Impact Assessment Report to Modernize Telecom Laws, Boost Industry Growth

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has released the findings of its maiden Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on Subsidiary Legislation 2024, marking a major step in its efforts to refine Nigeria’s telecom regulatory framework and foster industry innovation.

The report was presented at a stakeholder forum in Abuja on June 26, 2025, and it assessed eight key regulations covering licensing, SIM registration, spectrum trading, infrastructure sharing, and enforcement procedures.

The event brought together industry leaders, legal experts, and government officials to discuss the report’s recommendations for improving regulatory efficiency.

Mrs. Chizua Whyte, NCC’s Head of Legal and Regulatory Services, said the RIA is a shift in the commission’s rule-making process, involving months of internal reviews and stakeholder consultations.

In particular, she said the assessment identified obsolete provisions and proposed ways to simplify compliance, enhance transparency, and encourage investment.

Dr. Aminu Maida, NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, emphasized that the RIA aligns with the commission’s three strategic pillars—consumer protection, market efficiency, and government policy goals.

He highlighted its role in improving service quality, promoting fair competition, and ensuring optimal use of telecom resources.

Indeed, key outcomes of the assessment include:

– Streamlining regulations to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.

– Updating outdated rules to reflect current technological trends.

– Strengthening consumer rights and market competitiveness.

Stakeholders lauded the initiative, expressing optimism that its implementation would boost innovation, attract investment, and enhance Nigeria’s digital economy.

The NCC pledged to sustain collaboration with industry players to ensure the smooth adoption of the RIA’s recommendations.

The forum concluded with a call for continuous stakeholder engagement to maintain a balanced, forward-looking regulatory environment in Nigeria’s fast-evolving 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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