.....Towards Fostering Regulator, Legal Community SynergyThe first ever edition of the annual workshop for Attorneys- General organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission opened at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos on Wednesday.
In his welcome address the Executive Vice- Chairman of the Commission, Engr. Aminu Maida described the event as a “significant milestone in our efforts to foster collaboration between the legal community and the regulatory ecosystem driving Nigeria’s digital future.
He said, “Let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. Your presence today sends a strong message about the importance the Federal Government places on institutional synergy and policy cohesion. We deeply appreciate your leadership and commitment.
While elaborating on the theme of the workshop, “Building and Driving Synergy in Regulating Communications for the Digital Transformation of Nigeria”, the EVC stressed the Commission’s belief that collaboration is not optional, but essential.
“No sector, especially one as dynamic and impactful as communications, can be effectively regulated in isolation” Maida said.
Emphasizing the role of the Attorneys- General, the Chief Regulator of the Nigerian digital industry stated,
“The communications sector remains a vital enabler of innovation, commerce, governance, and inclusion. However, to fully unlock its potential, we must tackle a range of challenges that cut across legal, regulatory, fiscal, and operational domains.
“This is where your role, as Attorneys-General, becomes critical. You are not only the Chief Law Officers of your states; you are also policy influencers and key partners in shaping the legal frameworks that support national development. Your insights and guidance help ensure that innovation happens within a structure that promotes fairness, accountability, and long-term stability.
“Since the early 2000s, communications regulation has evolved through distinct phases-from liberalising markets and establishing independent regulators, to expanding broadband infrastructure and fostering universal access. In the 2010s, attention shifted to protecting consumers, enabling digital financial services, and addressing cross-sectoral challenges.
“Today, regulators are focused on advanced frontiers such as Al governance, digital resilience, and sustainable connectivity. Throughout this journey, one constant remains: collaborative, forward-looking regulation is essential to sustaining innovation and inclusive digital growth.
He thereafter laid out a list of pressing issues which the workshop is meant to tackle as follows:
A review of the Nigerian Communications Act (2003): We will reflect on its strengths, limitations, and areas for reform to ensure it remains fit for purpose in a rapidly evolving digital age.
Streamlining taxation in the communications sector: The issue of multiple and inconsistent taxes continues to deter investment. We must work together to harmonize tax regimes and remove disincentives to growth.
Addressing regulatory overlaps: Fragmented oversight creates confusion and inefficiencies. Our goal is to explore reforms that enhance coordination and legal clarity across agencies.
Protecting Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII):
Following the 2024 Executive Order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the designation of communications infrastructure as CNII gives us a new framework for collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and other stakeholders. We must now operationalize it effectively.
“As Nigeria accelerates its digital transformation, underpinned by technologies such as Al, IoT, and high-speed connectivity, the challenges will grow more complex. But so too will the opportunities. To succeed, we must adopt a Whole-of-Government approach that leverages the strengths of all institutions-federal and state.
“At the NCC, we are committed to working with you to align regulatory actions with broader national goals. We believe the Attorneys-General have a strategic role to play-not just in interpreting the law, but in shaping an enabling legal environment where technology and governance work in tandem.
“This workshop is just the beginning. We hope it will become an annual platform for knowledge exchange, mutual understanding, and joint problem-solving. I am confident that the conversations we start here will lead to stronger partnerships and better outcomes for the Nigerian people.
“Once again, thank you for honouring our invitation. I look forward to the insights, recommendations, and solutions that will emerge from our engagements over the next two davs.
In his keynote address, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, welcomed the idea of the workshop.”Let me start by commending the Nigerian Communications Commission for its foresight in pulling together the Chief Law Officers of the Federation together to engage and exchange ideas on this platform, which is aimed at identifying and bridging knowledge gap with respect to regulatory frameworks, and strengthening mechanisms for regulating communications in Nigeria as a panacea for digital transformation, said Fagbemi.
He, in agreement with the EVC, stated that “the justice and judicial sector are therefore critical components for regulating communications in Nigeria. This inevitably entails upholding the rule of law by providing level playing fields for actors in the communications sector, preventing the exploitation of consumer rights through strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks and streamlining penal dispensation with a view to ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
Hinting at the scourge of vandalism, Fagbemi stressed that, “Particular attention must be given to measures to curtail the destruction of infrastructure, by ensuring offenders are brought to book.”
He noted that the issues are not within the purview of the Federal Government alone, hence the need for bringing on board the Chief Law Officers in the States across the Federation.
He enjoined his fellow colleagues to “commit to working together with the Nigerian Communications Commission and relevant stakeholders to deliver on the vision of a transformed communications sector, for enhanced socio-economic development of our nation.