Joy Agwunobi
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector is on track to contribute 22 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2027, driven by regulatory reforms introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), according to a new independent impact assessment.
The report, released by Communiqué and titled “Regulating for the Future: Telecom Policy, Innovation, and Nigeria’s Digital Inclusion Goals,” evaluated the NCC’s policy interventions over the past two years.
It stated that the regulator’s actions are not only advancing Nigeria’s digital economy but also supporting the National Broadband Plan (NBP) target of 70 percent penetration by 2025.
The report identified several areas of progress linked to the NCC’s regulatory interventions. In terms of infrastructure resilience, it highlighted measures such as mandatory disaster recovery plans and the designation of telecom networks as Critical National Information Infrastructure, which are helping to strengthen defences against both cyber and physical threats.
On consumer protection, the study pointed to new guidelines on tariffs and user rights that have brought greater transparency to pricing, shielding subscribers from hidden charges. It also noted improvements in quality of service, with the NCC introducing stricter performance benchmarks for voice, data, and complaint resolution processes, ensuring operators are held more accountable for the services they deliver.
The report further underscored market sustainability as a key gain, citing the first tariff adjustment in over a decade, which has restored cost-reflective pricing. This policy shift, it explained, has already unlocked billions in fresh investment and accelerated the rollout of 4G, 5G, and fibre infrastructure across the country.
In addition, it noted that NCC reforms have spurred innovation, particularly through faster device approval processes that curb the gray market and create opportunities for local hardware development.
Commenting on the findings, David Adeleke, founder and CEO of Communiqué, said the telecom sector has become indispensable to Nigeria’s economic transformation, powering industries from e-commerce to healthcare.
“With the industry already contributing over 16 percent to GDP, the NCC is now aiming for a 22 percent contribution by 2027. The commission’s policies are therefore central to achieving this ambitious goal,” Adeleke noted.
While commending the regulator’s achievements, the report also flagged persistent challenges, including rising cases of vandalism and fibre cuts, uneven rural connectivity, weaknesses in enforcement, and high upgrade costs for smaller operators.
To address these gaps, the report recommends stronger inter-agency collaboration, improved enforcement mechanisms, incentives for local manufacturing, and more targeted engagement with rural communities.
The report positions reforms by the NCC as a catalyst for innovation and investment, but stresses that overcoming operational hurdles will be critical to sustaining momentum in Nigeria’s digital economy journey.
